Two men, formerly reported missing, now suspects in northern B.C. homicides: RCMP

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Mounties have confirmed Bryer Schmegelsky and Kam McLeod are wanted for questioning following the murders of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese in northern B.C. last week, as well as an unidentified man found dead close to Dease Lake on Friday near a burned out camper owned by the suspects.

The men may be in in Gillam, Manitoba, which is 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

“I can’t go into the specifics with respect to how that determination was made,” Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said on Tuesday. “I can just tell you that the investigators are receiving new information and that new information now leads us to believe — and to take this very unprecedented step to call to the public and ask, if you have information about Kam or Bryer’s whereabouts, to please take no action and call 911.”

Shiohet says Schmegelsky, 19, and McLeod, 18, were spotted in Saskatechewan and are likely still travelling, but police don’t have a possible destination.

Manitoba RCMP tweeted on Tuesday that they have “reason to believe” the two may recently have been seen near Gillam, Manitoba – almost 3,000 kilometres away from where Deese and Fowler’s bodies were found.

Police are asking the public to consider the pair dangerous.

Deese, an American, and Fowler, her Australian boyfriend, were found dead by the side of the Alaska Highway near Liard Hot Springs last week. Both had been shot.

At a press conference on Monday, July 22, investigators acknowledged a possible link between the homicides and the case of the two missing men from Vancouver Island, whose camper was found burned near Dease Lake days later.

The body of an unidentified man was found nearby and police say that death is considered suspicious.

Investigators have not released details on the manner in which he died, and have only confirmed they are still trying to find out who he is.

“The manner in which he died is not important at this point,” Shoihet said, stressing the importance of finding the two Port Alberni men.

McLeod and Schmegelsky were last seen in a grey 2011 Toyota RAV-4. McLeod is described as 6’4″, 169 lbs with dark hair facial hair and brown eyes. Schmegelsky is also 6’4″ and 169 lbs, but has sandy hair.

The Saskatchewan RCMP said in a statement that the two were seen in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan on Sunday, July 21 when they were captured on the security footage currently being used in a public alert. But police say they may have changed their appearance since the footage was taken, and reiterated that they’re “considered armed and extremely dangerous.”

The BC RCMP has been in contact with both of the suspects’ families, and have asked them for help.

“I personally have not been in touch with their families, so I don’t have details with respect to how they’re feeling,” Shoihet said. “As a mother myself, I can just say that yesterday they were missing and we’ve now changed them to suspects — I’m certain they’re being impacted by this news.”

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