2019 Northern British Columbia murders

The 2019 Northern British Columbia murders were a spree killing that took place on the Alaska Highway and Stewart–Cassiar Highway in the Canadian province of British Columbia between July 14–19, 2019. Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky are believed to have killed Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese, before murdering Leonard Dyck within a six-day time frame.[1]

2019 Northern British Columbia murders
Location	Northern British Columbia, Canada
Date	July 14, 2019 (2019-07-14) – August 7, 2019 (2019-08-07)
Attack type	Shooting
Deaths	5 confirmed (including both suspected perpetrators)
Victims	Lucas Fowler Chynna Deese Leonard Dyck

By July 23, 2019, McLeod and Schmegelsky had reportedly traversed 3,200 kilometers stretching across four Canadian provinces in ten days.[2] A Canada-wide manhunt for the suspects was initiated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).[3] Between July 23 and August 7, McLeod and Schmegelsky had died by suicide by firearm near the Nelson River, northeast of Gillam, Manitoba.[4][5]

Details

Shootings

Australian citizen Lucas Fowler of New South Wales and his girlfriend, American citizen Chynna Deese of North Carolina, were taking a three-week trip around Canada.[6] On July 14, 2019 their 1986 Chevrolet van had broken down along the Alaska Highway, 20 kilometres south of Liard Hot Springs.[7] At approximately 3:20 PM PST, Curtis Broughton, a mechanic, along with his wife Sandra, had stopped to check on the couple.[8] Broughton explained, "They seemed like they kind of had it under control. It was mechanical issues with the van. They were having a picnic waiting for the van to unflood, I guess, and try to start it again".[9] Curtis was assured that the couple knew what they were doing, and saw them "happy" and "smiling" before leaving them shortly after.[10] At approximately 7 AM on July 15, the bodies of Fowler and Deese were discovered by Trevor Pierre, a highway worker.[11]

Both victims were found in a ditch close to their van, with their bodies having visible gunshot wounds and lying five feet (1.5 m) apart from one another.[11] Both were lying north, with their heads facing west.[12] The van's back doors were left open with their windows smashed, according to Pierre.[12] On July 19, a burnt-out pickup truck was discovered south of the Stikine River Bridge on Highway 37.[13] The body of Vancouver resident Leonard Dyck was found two kilometres south of the vehicle fire, with "similar circumstances" as Fowler and Deese (whose bodies were found 470 kilometres away).[14]

Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky were initially reported as missing persons, as it was revealed that they had been operating the pickup truck before it was destroyed.[15] On July 22, the RCMP believed there had been a possible link between the missing persons and murder victims in northern B.C.[16]

Manhunt

Kam McLeod
Born	April 12, 2000 Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada[17]
Died	c. July 23, 2019 – August 7, 2019 (aged 19) near Gillam, Manitoba, Canada
Cause of death	Suicide by gunshot
Body discovered	August 7, 2019
Parent(s)	Keith and Lynn McLeod

Bryer Schmegelsky
Born	August 4, 2000[18] Duncan, British Columbia, Canada[19]
Died	c. July 23, 2019 – August 7, 2019 (aged 18 or 19) near Gillam, Manitoba, Canada
Cause of death	Suicide by gunshot
Body discovered	August 7, 2019
Parent(s)	Alan Schmegelsky and Debbie Sweeney

On July 23, a burning Toyota RAV4 was found near Fox Lake Cree Nation, north of Gillam, Manitoba, believed to be driven by the missing pair.[20] Following this discovery, the RCMP sought second-degree murder charges against McLeod and Schmegelsky in relation to the northern B.C. killings.[21] After the case had received nation-wide attention, a resident of Cold Lake, Alberta reported helping two younger males who had their Toyota RAV4 stuck on July 21.[22] Later that same day, the pair was captured by video surveillance at a Meadow Lake store in Saskatchewan which was turned in to police days later.[23]

Eyewitnesses have also recalled spotting McLeod and Schmegelsky twice in the Gillam area of Manitoba on July 22.[24] On the same day, McLeod and Schmegelsky were stopped for a routine alcohol check by Tataskweyak Cree Nation band constables in Split Lake, Manitoba.[25] The pair was eventually released, marking the interaction with band constables as the last confirmed sighting of the suspects, as of July 22.[26] By July 24, the RCMP had deployed the Emergency Response Team, crisis negotiation team, air services and canine units to Gillam and its surrounding area.[27] A checkpoint had been set up at the intersection of Provincial Roads 280 and 290, with heavily armed officers canvassing the area.[28] The RCMP had acknowledged the 'inhospitable' environment with dense forests, swampy terrain, and wild animals.[29] After almost a week of unsuccessful search attempts for the murder suspects in Gillam, the RCMP received a new tip on July 28.[30] Travis Bighetty and Justin Coelho of the Indigenous Bear Clan Patrol spotted two persons with "matching descriptions" of the wanted men at the York Landing community landfill, 200 kilometres southwest of Gillam.[31]

By July 29, the RCMP confirmed that they were unable to locate the suspects, reassuring the public of their continued presence in the Gillam and York Landing communities.[32] On July 30, Northeast Ontario Provincial Police received a report of two suspicious men with matching descriptions of McLeod and Schmegelsky near Iron Bridge, east of Sault Ste. Marie.[33]

On July 31 at 10:30 AM, OPP James Bay Detachment was notified that the fugitives may have been travelling eastbound in a white vehicle on Highway 11 near Kapuskasing,[34] carrying a firearm. Officers were unable to locate the subjects in either incident.[35] On the same day, nine days after the manhunt began, Manitoba RCMP announced that it was "scaling back" their search operation after being unable to locate the suspects despite inspecting over 11,000 square kilometers and searching more than 500 homes in Gillam, York Landing and their surroundings.[36] By August 1, more unconfirmed locations of the suspects have been reported to the OPP including Sudbury, West Nipissing, North Bay and Parry Sound.

A breakthrough came on August 2 when Gillam-based tour guide Clint Sawchuk reported to the RCMP that he had seen a blue sleeping bag at the edge of the Nelson River near where it enters Hudson Bay.[37]. On August 6, the RCMP announced it had found several items believed to belong to the suspects on the shore of the Nelson River.[38] A fresh search of the river by the RCMP on August 3 found a damaged rowboat on the northern shore of the Nelson River below the Lower Limestone Rapids, about 65 km north-east of Gillam. Near the rowboat were some other items which the RCMP linked to the suspects. This location was 9 km north-east of where the burning Toyota RAV4 had been found on July 23. An underwater search by the RCMP close to where the rowboat was found did not find anything further.[39]

On August 7, RCMP in northern Manitoba reported that they believed they had found the bodies of the two B.C. fugitives in thick bush close to the Nelson River about one kilometre west of where the damaged rowboat had been found.[40] By August 12, an autopsy report from Winnipeg had confirmed that the two bodies found belonged to the wanted suspects and that they had died due to self-inflicted gunshot wounds.[41]

Response

Canadian Armed Forces

On July 26, a formal request from RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki was approved by Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale and Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan for assistance in locating the perpetrators.[42] By July 27, an RCAF 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron CC-130H Hercules aircraft was deployed from Winnipeg for aerial reconnaissance to the Gillam area, while under RCMP command.[43][44] The aircraft utilized its high-thermal detection gear in the search, with negative results.[45]

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

On July 27, 2019 an Indigenous-led neighbourhood watch group arrived in Gillam, at the request of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.[46] They offered volunteer support and services to the residents of the town, amid the high-risk manhunt in the area.[47]

Social media

The manhunt sparked the creation of Facebook groups theorizing the suspects’ next moves while also caused online trolls to emerge, tease police and to encourage the suspects in evading search efforts; one of those was an entity known as Thomasabrahamutoyo who alleged that the suspects were his friends and taunted that they are "smarter than you think".[48]

Misconception

Highway of Tears

The initial reports of the murders in northern B.C. have promoted confusion among some foreign media outlets.[49] The locations of the murders had been incorrectly identified as taking place on, or near the infamous Highway of Tears.[50] The stretch of highway is known for its decades-long unsolved murders and disappearances of indigenous women.

See also

• List of unsolved murders

References

1. Proctor, Jason (July 27, 2019). "Transfixed by tragedy: mystery of alleged 'team killers' captures world's attention". CBC News.
2. "Canada highway murders: Military support called in to help search". NewsComAu. July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
3. "Manhunt for two B.C. murder suspects focuses on Manitoba wilderness". Retrieved July 27, 2019.
4. "McLeod, Schmegelsky died by suicide, autopsy results suggest: RCMP | CTV News". bc.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
5. "Manhunt suspects died of 'suicide by gunfire,' RCMP say | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
6. "American Woman and Australian Boyfriend Killed While Road-Tripping in Canada". Inside Edition. July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
7. "Couple died by 'gun violence' south of Liard Hot Springs". Cabin Radio. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
8. News (July 22, 2019). "Three dead, two missing off northern B.C. highway leaves local residents unsettled | National Post". Retrieved July 27, 2019.
9. "Tourist couple found dead off B.C. highway were 'happy' and 'confident,' bystanders say | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
10. "'They were still happy': Couple reveals murdered Australian's final moments". 7NEWS.com.au. July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
11. "UPDATE: Suspects identified in three northern B.C. deaths spotted in Manitoba". KamloopsMatters.com. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
12. "'Still troubled by it': Witness recounts securing the scene of northern B.C. double murder | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
13. "Dease Lake murder victim identified as Vancouver's Leonard Dyck; teens charged with 2nd-degree | CTV News". bc.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
14. "Charges laid, victim identified in Dease Lake homicide". CHEK. July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
15. "Who are Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky? What we know about the suspects in northern B.C. deaths | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
16. Schmunk, Rhianna (July 23, 2019). "2 B.C. men considered missing now suspects in homicide of young couple". CBC News. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
17. December 20, David Carrigg Updated; 2019 (December 20, 2019). "Timeline: B.C. triple murders by Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky | Vancouver Sun". Retrieved December 22, 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
18. "B.C. murder suspect's father reveals details of troubled life in book". Victoria News. July 28, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
19. News; Canada (July 28, 2019). "B.C. murder suspect's father reveals details of troubled life in book | National Post". Retrieved December 22, 2019.
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22. "B.C. murder suspects spotted in Cold Lake, Alta., last Sunday". Edmonton. July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
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25. "B.C. murder suspects stopped, released by band constables before manhunt: councillor | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
26. Lamoureux, Mack; Visser, Josh (July 29, 2019). "Small Manitoba Town On Lockdown as Police Sweep Area for BC Murder Suspects". Vice. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
27. Froese, Ian (July 25, 2019). "Fugitives likely still in Gillam, Man., area, RCMP says". CBC News.
28. Bernhardt, Glowacki, Darren, Laura (July 24, 2019). "Manhunt underway after burnt vehicle found in northern Manitoba used by suspects in B.C. homicides: RCMP". CBC News.
29. Lamoureux, Mack; Visser, Josh; Mead, Derek (July 26, 2019). "BC Murder Suspects Are Likely Hiding in Northern Manitoba Woods, Police Say". Vice. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
30. "Manhunt suspects could be in York Landing, Man.: police | CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
31. "RCMP searching York Landing, Man., for B.C. fugitives". CBC News. July 28, 2019.
32. "Distance from Gillam to York Landing full of 'challenging terrain,' experts say - National | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
33. Dillman, Martha (July 31, 2019). "Report of murder suspect sightings in northeastern Ontario unconfirmed, OPP say". CBC News.
34. Dillman, Martha (July 31, 2019). "Report of murder suspect sightings in northeastern Ontario unconfirmed, OPP say". CBC. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
35. "Update: OPP confirms a caller believed B.C. murder suspects drove through Kapuskasing". Sudbury.com. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
36. "Manhunt for B.C. murder suspects shrinking but not ending | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. July 31, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
37. "How a river guide's sharp eye, and a sleeping bag, triggered a search that ended the RCMP manhunt|". www.theglobeandmail.com. August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
38. Grabish, Austin (August 6, 2019). "RCMP find items linked to B.C. homicide suspects on northern Manitoba shoreline". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. CBC News.
39. "RCMP divers conduct underwater search in Nelson River after damaged rowboat found|". www.thompsoncitizen.net. August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
40. "Manhunt ends as RCMP discover two bodies believed to be B.C. homicide suspects |". www.theglobeandmail.com. August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
41. "Autopsy results say B.C. murder suspects died by suicide: RCMP | CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
42. "Massive manhunt in Canadian wilderness for teen murder suspects". gulfnews.com. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
43. "Military to provide aircraft support to RCMP search for B.C. homicide suspects | CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. July 27, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
44. "Manhunt for B.C. murder suspects continues in northern Manitoba | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
45. Hatherly, Dana (July 28, 2019). "Police search Northern Manitoba homes, abandoned buildings in pursuit of 2 fugitives". CBC News.
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47. Hatherly, Dana (July 27, 2019). "Winnipeg's Bear Clan Patrol to act as 'ambassadors' as Mounties hunt fugitives". CBC News.
48. Hristova, Bobby (August 2, 2019). "'It's been blown out of proportion': Online speculation causing havoc in manhunt for B.C. fugitives". Timmins Daily Press. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
49. "Here's what some international media have wrong about northern B.C. double murder | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
50. "Here's what we know about the 3 dead in northern B.C. and the suspects | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.

External links

• Overview of Fort Nelson and Dease Lake Homicide Investigation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police