In the Summer of 2019, A Double Murder in Rural British Columbia Sparked a Nationwide Manhunt for Two Teenage Suspects
When a foreign couple was found shot to death on the side of a desolate B.C. highway, Canadian authorities raced to identify and arrest the killers before they could strike again
Background
Many secrets lie hidden in the vast expanse of Northern British Columbia. In the summer of 2019, this majestic landscape became the center of a mystery that captured headlines and gripped the nation.
It all started on the morning of July 15, 2019. Two dead bodies were discovered on a remote section of highway in British Columbia—just south of Liard Hot Springs.
Later identified as Australian Lucas Fowler, 23, and his American girlfriend Chynna Deese, 24, the couple had set out on a road trip to explore the rugged beauty of Canada.
Passersby's recall a blue 1986 Chevrolet van pulled off to the side of the highway. At first glance, it was just another breakdown, hardly an uncommon sight on roads so far from major cities. However, as time passed, a highway worker approached the vehicle and made a grim discovery. Fowler and Deese were found dead next to their van, shot multiple times.
Immediately, questions arose surrounding the deaths of this young couple. There was no indication of robbery or a struggle, and the couple had been left with their personal belongings.
When detectives began their investigation, they found little evidence. There were no witnesses, no apparent motive, and no suspects. Their task was made even more difficult due to the isolated nature of the crime scene that day.
However, amidst the sparse clues, investigators did find one crucial piece of evidence: bullet casings scattered near the bodies. This discovery would later play a significant role in linking the couple’s murder to another gruesome killing.
Suspects Emerge
Not long after the initial murders, another gruesome discovery was made by the authorities 300km away when a torched Dodge pickup truck was discovered. A short distance from the truck, authorities located a body, later identified as Leonard Dyck.
He had been killed in a manner that bore haunting similarities to the murders of Fowler and Deese.
Adding to the mystery, the burned pickup truck was determined to have belonged to Kam Mcleod, 19, a young man from Port Alberni. He had been reported missing along with his friend Bryer Schmegelsky,18 - which had sparked a safety alert.
After the discovery of Leonard Dyck’s body and Mcleod's pickup truck, authorities were initially reluctant to declare Mcleod and Schmegelsky anything but missing.
However, the narrative changed once cops matched the bullet casings present at both killings.
Surveillance footage eventually emerged of McLeod and Schmegelsky at a store near Dease Lake purchasing a rifle only hours before Dyck's body was found.
As the investigation progressed, authorities cross-checked witness accounts, which placed both men at the crime scenes.
The country was on put edge when this pair of missing teenagers turned out to be the prime suspects in a series of cold-blooded killings.
Nationwide Manhunt Begins
Once authorities had identified Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky as primary suspects, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) wasted no time issuing a nationwide alert.
Broadcasts warning the public were issued on television, radio and social media. Law enforcement efforts to capture the fugitives were coordinated across multiple police forces in Canada - including provincial police and local departments.
This collaboration included an exchange of intelligence, resource sharing, and highway checkpoints.
The RCMP's Behavioral Analysis Unit profilers tried to anticipate the suspects’ next move. Snipers, helicopters, and drones were used to scan the more desolate areas of their search.
They established tip lines urging people to report even the most minor incidents. Police released posters and digital message boards with images of the teens at gas stations, rest stops, and community centers.
Great efforts were made to ensure that everyone saw McLeod and Schmegelsky's faces so that they could be more easily recognized.
The search for the pair took on a frenzied pace after police scrambled to retrace their steps and guess where McLeod and Schmegelsky would go next. Numerous law enforcement agencies had to put aside any egotistical rivalries and work as a team.
Sightings, Leads, and False Alarms
The ensuing nationwide manhunt for Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky would prompt an avalanche of reported sightings, tips, and hoax calls from coast to coast. Every report was a mix of hope and frustration as law enforcement officers around the country scrambled to separate the real tips from the noise.
Earlier sightings had placed McLeod and Schmegelsky at several locations in British Columbia. The first serious lead came from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, where a resident reported two young men matching the descriptions of the suspects driving a gray Toyota RAV4.
The tip led to an increased police presence in the town, as checkpoints and patrols were carried out on a wider scale, yet to no avail.
Reports of the fugitives became more frequent in Manitoba as the suspects moved eastward. On July 22, 2019, a man reported seeing what turned out to be Schmegelsky and McLeod driving their grey Toyota RAV4 through town.
When authorities descended on the area, they found the RAV4 in flames with no sign of the suspects. A canvass of the area determined there were no reports of stolen vehicles, which to authorities meant the duo was likely on foot.
For five days, there were no sightings, and no new reports came in. Then, on July 28th, a credible sighting of the pair was reported in York Landing, a small Indigenous community southwest of Gillam.
Residents reported seeing two males who matched the description of the suspects near a dump site. This set off a massive search that included the RCMP along with local police and military help.
The search effort proved exhaustive but turned up no sign of McLeod and Schmegelsky, leading to speculation that the sighting had, in fact, been a case of mistaken identity.
Discovery in Manitoba
The manhunt for Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky ended on August 7, 2019, when their bodies were discovered around 10 am local time. The break came when a battered aluminum boat was found along the shore of Nelson River.
It raised the possibility that McLeod and Schmegelsky might have tried to cross, a dangerous feat due to the swift currents, and disappeared into the river.
Yet, with no bodies, the search expanded outward from the river banks, and a short time later, both bodies were found in dense brush near Fox Lake Cree Nation.
In addition to the bodies, a digital camera was found near the scene, which contained several video recordings made by McLeod and Schmegelsky, where they confessed to the murders and expressed their intent on ending their lives.
The RCMP later stated that the videos provided a chilling insight into the minds of the young men, documenting their final days and the twisted rationale behind their actions.
The discovery of the killers' bodies in Manitoba marked a somber end to a harrowing chapter in Canadian history as communities across the nation grappled with the aftermath of these senseless murders.
Closing Thoughts
While many questions remain unanswered about what led McLeod and Schmegelsky down such a dark path, one thing is certain: The tragic discovery served as a reminder of the impact that senseless violence can have on communities but also as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of those involved in bringing an end to this dark chapter in Canadian history.
Sources:
Meissner, Dirk, and Amy Smart. "How the Northern B.C. Murders Unfolded." Global News, 17 Dec. 2019, https://globalnews.ca/news/6331779/northern-bc-murders-how-it-unfolded/
"Northern B.C. Murders: Inside the Massive Manhunt." CBC News, 21 Dec. 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/northern-bc-murders-ito-1.5401732
"Timeline: Triple Murders Committed in B.C. Last Summer by Teen Killers Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky." Vancouver Sun, 5 Aug. 2019, https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/timeline-triple-murders-committed-in-b-c-last-summer-by-teen-killers-kam-mcleod-and-bryer-schmegelsky
"Northern B.C. Murders: Timeline and Map of Key Events." Global News, 22 July 2019, https://globalnews.ca/news/5677276/northern-bc-murders-timeline-map/
Hager, Mike. "One Year After the Manitoba Manhunt: The Grief and Unanswered Questions." The Globe and Mail, 22 July 2020, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-one-year-after-the-manitoba-manhunt-the-grief-and-unanswered/
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That’s quite a story & the first time I have read about it. Thanks for posting that!