Canada - Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck, all murdered, Alaska Hwy, BC, Jul 2019 #11

[Arizona 123]

Here is a direct google maps satellite view link to the rapids just upstream of the converter station (Keewatinoow). This is downstream from Sundance (not Sundance Creek, that's a reporter error) about 5 miles.
Google Maps
These are the rapids I talked about in prior posts. They also appear to be the last ones of any significance between here and Hudson Bay.

 

[ladysamurai]

Timeline (by me, so any mistakes are mine) updated to include July 20 spotting of suspects and the latest news involving the discovery of the damaged boat, as per Websleuth friends:

July 12--BS/KM leave Port Alberni headed to Alberta or the Yukon (as per BS father or grandmother)

July 13/14--Last known contact of BS w/Carol Starkey, grandmother.

July 14 11:30PM--C. Deese and L. Fowler seen alive, at van, Alaska Highway/Hwy 97, Liard Hot Springs

July 15 6:45AM--Deese’s and Fowler’s bodies spotted behind van by trucker

July 17—RCMP says Deese, Fowler deaths are suspicious

July 18—RCMP announces Deese, Fowler as homicide victims

July 18—BS/KM spotted 350km away in Jade City store where they stopped for free coffee

July 18 3:15PM--BS/KM spotted traveling south from Super A General Store, Dease Lake

July 19—BS/KM’s burning pickup, Hwy 37, 50km south of Dease Lake, 470km from Deese/Fowler

July 19—Man’s body reported at highway pullout 2km from burning pickup truck

July 19—BS/KM announced as missing by RCMP

July 20-Alberta RCMP confirms BS/KM were spotted at a Fairview gas station

July 21--BS/KM in grey 2011 Toyota RAV4, get SUV stuck in Cold Lake, AB. A local assists them.

July 21—BS/KM recorded on security camera in store at Meadow Lake, AB

July 22—BS/KM are passed through the alcohol checkpoint by band constables at Split Lake, MB

July 23—RCMP announce BS/KN as suspects in the 3 deaths, and possibly driving 2011 Toyota RAV4

July 23—Burning RAV4 reported northeast of Gillam, MB, 170km east of Split Lake, MB. Manhunt.

July 24—RCMP ID body as that of Len Dyck

July 24—RCMP confirm BS/KM connected with burnt RAV4. Manhunt, house-to-house, continues.

July 28—Alleged sighting, massive manhunt in York Landing, southwest of Gillam, but no luck

August 2- Green rowboat spotted on shore of Nelson downriver from burnt car during a helicopter search

August 4- RCMP divers will start searching a section of the Nelson River in the area of the damaged boat

References used—those below, plus many others courtesy of the Websleuths community:

RCMP not ruling out link between missing Alberni teens, body found near truck, double slaying
(The above reference has some interesting points I have not seen elsewhere, including that BS’s father said he was closer to 125lbs, not 170lbs as reported by RCMP.)

Timeline of events in the deaths of three people in northern B.C.

Teens missing after burning truck and body found in Northern BC | News

RCMP divers to begin searching river near Gillam after finding rowboat, search for B.C. fugitives continues

 

[Hatfield]

Here is a direct google maps satellite view link to the rapids just upstream of the converter station (Keewatinoow). This is downstream from Sundance (not Sundance Creek, that's a reporter error) about 5 miles.
Google Maps
These are the rapids I talked about in prior posts. They also appear to be the last ones of any significance between here and Hudson Bay.

The Nelson looks to be quite a major river.

 

[scrappinkat]

this seems to have data

Real-Time Hydrometric Data Map Search - Water Level and Flow - Environment Canada

but nothing around Gillam or Nelson, where there are meters, is named the "Nelson River"
is the river between Lake Winnipeg and the mouth just named differently? I also
am not seeing dramatic lows, but not sure I am reading the data correctly. (Our similar US site seems to have more about flood stages and record highs and lows.)

There’s a data collection station at Gillam. I found it using the map at the website



Real-Time Hydrometric Data Map Search - Water Level and Flow - Environment Canada

Not sure if this is helpful or not.

 

[Seattle1]

Quick question...am I missing something? This tweet from RCMP Manitoba on July 25th says "We can now confirm that there have been 2 established & corroborated sightings of Kam McLeod & Bryer Schmegelsky in the Gillam area, prior to the discovery of the burnt out vehicle."

We know about the Split Lake alcohol checkpoint sighting, although it's debatable whether that counts as "the Gillam area." But did we ever hear details about any other confirmed sightings of them in Gillam?

Excluding the Constable check point, there were 2 sightings captured on surveillance: first was at Jade with the free coffee, and 2nd was at Meadow Lake where we saw them walking in and out of the Co-op.

Sightings by the Constable (alcohol check stop), and by man that helped them when Rav4 was stuck near Cold Creek were not recorded.

MOO

 

[Zella]

Mapcarta has amazing resolution! You can see the thin blue line of Sundance Creek if you zoom in, south of the road.

Split Lake community is on a separate road, connecting to the main road. That explains the band Constable's comment that he saw the RAV4 leave (the community) after one hour.

Yeah I'm thinking there's a reasonable chance the boat is connected to them. If so, it looks like they didn't get far and, in all likelihood, probably did drown in the river days ago, which explains the lack of sightings. MOO

 

[Zella]

Question for those more experienced with river rapids: If these two drowned a week or so ago, would it be weird for the boat only now to surface?

 

[NJSleuth91]

It's not just experience, it's also having the right gear. Like proper backpacks, to begin with. Backpacks are expensive, so unless you're into overnight hiking trips or travel, people don't buy them: they use cheap duffle bags or even garbage bags for car or boat camping. And yet you can't trek for any distance unless you can carry everything on your back. You can see in the photos of the Germans, they both had technical, internal frame backpacks.

So it does seem possible the suspects would only ditch the car after they'd found another vehicle (whether land or water-based), and loaded all their stuff into it: they'd have no way to carry even basic necessities (water, food, tarp, rope, sleeping bags).

Ok so thinking about it...let's put it this way...there are two options:

a) They were trying to get away with the murders. If so, we know that they absolutely sucked at doing so and made a number of very basic mistakes. The most obvious one being, you know, burning their car right next to a murder scene, nothing to see here, and then stealing the murder victim's car. It would be so easy to get away with murder in the middle of nowhere and yet they somehow failed at that. Runner-up mistake is probably trying to drive past the alcohol checkpoint -- don't do crime while you're doing crime is like, the most basic rule of crime. Third big mistake is giving their real names in Meadow Lake and getting stuck in the mud in the first place. Honorable mention goes to casually walking around a store in two very memorable outfits so that the staff would definitely remember them and look up the security footage later.

So in that case if they sucked at getting away with it that badly even before anyone was looking for them, how would they suddenly become these criminal masterminds who succeed at this whole elaborate escape and survive this unforgiving landscape by living off the land and outwit a ton of RCMP officers with all types of helicopters, infrared, etc.? Given everything we know about their actions leading up to their disappearance, it becomes clear that it's exceedingly unlikely that they succeeded. Since they haven't been caught, and a dead body is harder to find than a live one, the most likely explanation is that they are no longer on this plane of existence.

There's a tiny chance they found another vehicle to escape with and yet nobody has discovered their vehicle and/or a member of their very small community has been missing for almost two weeks. But it really doesn't seem likely at all, especially considering a) people in the area are specifically on the lookout for missing cars and/or people, and b) there were several confirmed sightings of them within a couple of days before anyone was even looking for them, and now there have been zero confirmed sightings or surveillance video of them getting gas, food, etc. in almost two weeks.

b) My theory from the last thread -- they wanted people to know it was them which is why they left a trail of such obvious clues. It was similar in motive and setup as the usual mass shooting where the perpetrator kills themselves or is killed by police in the end, and is motivated at least partially by infamy. Because obviously their lives were over at this point, they had no intention of coming back from this. They lured the police on a wild goose chase to the wilderness to get more media attention on them. They disappeared with the intention of killing themselves and never being found so that there would always be the question of if they got away with it, and the search would result in increased media attention.

Either way...I highly doubt they went into the woods with the level of preparation the German tourists had.

Here's a video of the interview. Also shows a glimpse of the Nelson River and some of the terrain they were searching.

Thanks!

 

[Satchie]

If a flat bottom boat is not river worthy for the Nelson, then where did it come from? Would locals even have one if it’s not safe or practical to use?

In some areas a river will be quiet enough to use a rowboat to cross over to the other side, or do a little fishing without drifting too far downstream. Or someone will remove the motor and just leave the boat pulled up on shore.

 

[banzai]

I'm questioning the July 20 sighting reported by this source. All other MSM reporting this gas stop sighting was July 21*.

Northern B.C. murders: A timeline of what happened and where

A timeline of events in the B.C. to Manitoba manhunt

Three people are dead in northern B.C. and there is a major search stretching across Western Canada for two young men police say are suspects. Here's a timeline of events:

July 15 - The bodies of a man and a woman are found near a blue van on the Alaska Highway, also known as Highway 97, near Liard Hot Springs, B.C.

July 17 - RCMP say the deaths are suspicious.

July 18 - RCMP announce Australian Lucas Fowler, 23, and his 24-year-old American girlfriend, Chynna Deese, are homicide victims. Meanwhile, in Jade City, B.C., Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, are spotted in a store where they stopped for free coffee. Jade City is about 350 kilometres from where the two bodies were found.

July 19 - Police announce the body of a man has been found two kilometres from a burned-out truck belonging to McLeod and Schmegelsky near Dease Lake, B.C. The two teens are missing. Dease Lake is about 470 kilometres from the first crime scene.

*July 21 - McLeod and Schmegelsky are spotted in Cold Lake, Alta., where a local resident, not knowing who they are, helps them free a stuck Toyota Rav 4 they are driving. The are also captured on security camera footage at a store in Meadow Lake, Sask.

July 22 - Mounties say Fowler and Deese were shot. They release composite sketches of a man seen speaking with the couple on the highway where they were found dead and a sketch of the unidentified man found dead near the burned truck. Fowler's father, an Australian police inspector, pleads for public help in the investigation. At the same time, band constables with Tataskweyak Cree Nation at Split Lake in northern Manitoba talk with McLeod and Schmegelsky at a checkstop, unaware of who they are. The constables see camping gear and maps in their vehicle.

July 23 - RCMP announce Schmegelsky and McLeod are suspects in the three deaths. They release photos of the men and a 2011 grey Toyota Rav 4 they may have been driving. Fox Lake Cree Nation says a burned-out vehicle is found near Gillam, Man., about 170 kilometres east of Split Lake. Police search that area.

July 24 - RCMP confirm the burned-out vehicle near Gillam is the Toyota Rav 4 the suspects are believed to have been driving. The third victim is identified as 64-year-old Leonard Dyck of Vancouver. He was also lecturer in the University of British Columbia's botany department.

July 25 - Manitoba Mounties confirm two sightings of Schmegelsky and McLeod in the Gillam area. RCMP say the sightings, along with no reports of stolen vehicles, lead investigators to believe the suspects are still in the region. They say they are investigating a photograph of Nazi paraphernalia allegedly sent by Schmegelsky to another user on a video game network. Schmegelsky is also pictured in military fatigues brandishing an airsoft rifle and wearing a gas mask.

July 28 - RCMP descend on York Landing, an isolated community southwest of Gillam, after it's reported the suspects were seen at the local dump.

July 29 - RCMP are unable to confirm the sighting and pull back to Gillam.

Fair enough. And I greatly appreciate the timeline. Thank you!

IMO the distance traveled from Dease Lake to Cold Lake supports the confirmed Fairview sighting on July 20th. We know the professor was found on the 19th. The distance from Dease Lake to Fairview is 1342 km or 16 hours using the fastest route, taking us well into July 20th. (Factor in rest stops aka naps ) It's another 700 km or 7-8 hours to Cold Lake, when they were first seen in the morning on the 21st.

 

[Kiantra]

YouTube has cool videos of annual York boat race near the other end of Nelson River.

I was reading about York Factory last week, and they used Hayes River to avoid the Nelson River rapids, then some unusual small river to the calmer section of Nelson River.

Certainly makes you appreciate what our ancestors went though. It’s beyond my imagination. Humbling.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Question for those more experienced with river rapids: If these two drowned a week or so ago, would it be weird for the boat only now to surface?

Yes, and wondering if anyone familiar with that river knows if the river has an undertow at all and where bodies would flow to/show up?

 

[copkid]

Timeline (by me, so any mistakes are mine) updated to include July 20 spotting of suspects and the latest news involving the discovery of the damaged boat, as per Websleuth friends:

July 12--BS/KM leave Port Alberni headed to Alberta or the Yukon (as per BS father or grandmother)

July 13/14--Last known contact of BS w/Carol Starkey, grandmother.

July 14 11:30PM--C. Deese and L. Fowler seen alive, at van, Alaska Highway/Hwy 97, Liard Hot Springs

July 15 6:45AM--Deese’s and Fowler’s bodies spotted behind van by trucker

July 17—RCMP says Deese, Fowler deaths are suspicious

July 18—RCMP announces Deese, Fowler as homicide victims

July 18—BS/KM spotted 350km away in Jade City store where they stopped for free coffee

July 18 3:15PM--BS/KM spotted traveling south from Super A General Store, Dease Lake

July 19—BS/KM’s burning pickup, Hwy 37, 50km south of Dease Lake, 470km from Deese/Fowler

July 19—Man’s body reported at highway pullout 2km from burning pickup truck

July 19—BS/KM announced as missing by RCMP

July 20-Alberta RCMP confirms BS/KM were spotted at a Fairview gas station

July 21--BS/KM in grey 2011 Toyota RAV4, get SUV stuck in Cold Lake, AB. A local assists them.

July 21—BS/KM recorded on security camera in store at Meadow Lake, AB

July 22—BS/KM are passed through the alcohol checkpoint by band constables at Split Lake, MB

July 23—RCMP announce BS/KN as suspects in the 3 deaths, and possibly driving 2011 Toyota RAV4

July 23—Burning RAV4 reported northeast of Gillam, MB, 170km east of Split Lake, MB. Manhunt.

July 24—RCMP ID body as that of Len Dyck

July 24—RCMP confirm BS/KM connected with burnt RAV4. Manhunt, house-to-house, continues.

July 28—Alleged sighting, massive manhunt in York Landing, southwest of Gillam, but no luck

August 2- Green rowboat spotted on shore of Nelson downriver from burnt car during a helicopter search

August 4- RCMP divers will start searching a section of the Nelson River in the area of the damaged boat

References used—those below, plus many others courtesy of the Websleuths community:

RCMP not ruling out link between missing Alberni teens, body found near truck, double slaying
(The above reference has some interesting points I have not seen elsewhere, including that BS’s father said he was closer to 125lbs, not 170lbs as reported by RCMP.)

Timeline of events in the deaths of three people in northern B.C.

Teens missing after burning truck and body found in Northern BC | News

RCMP divers to begin searching river near Gillam after finding rowboat, search for B.C. fugitives continues

The date of the burning Rav 4 should be July 22nd.

 

[Seattle1]

Timeline (by me, so any mistakes are mine) updated to include July 20 spotting of suspects and the latest news involving the discovery of the damaged boat, as per Websleuth friends:

July 12--BS/KM leave Port Alberni headed to Alberta or the Yukon (as per BS father or grandmother)

July 13/14--Last known contact of BS w/Carol Starkey, grandmother.

July 14 11:30PM--C. Deese and L. Fowler seen alive, at van, Alaska Highway/Hwy 97, Liard Hot Springs

July 15 6:45AM--Deese’s and Fowler’s bodies spotted behind van by trucker

July 17—RCMP says Deese, Fowler deaths are suspicious

July 18—RCMP announces Deese, Fowler as homicide victims

July 18—BS/KM spotted 350km away in Jade City store where they stopped for free coffee

July 18 3:15PM--BS/KM spotted traveling south from Super A General Store, Dease Lake

July 19—BS/KM’s burning pickup, Hwy 37, 50km south of Dease Lake, 470km from Deese/Fowler

July 19—Man’s body reported at highway pullout 2km from burning pickup truck

July 19—BS/KM announced as missing by RCMP

July 20-Alberta RCMP confirms BS/KM were spotted at a Fairview gas station

July 21--BS/KM in grey 2011 Toyota RAV4, get SUV stuck in Cold Lake, AB. A local assists them.

July 21—BS/KM recorded on security camera in store at Meadow Lake, AB

July 22—BS/KM are passed through the alcohol checkpoint by band constables at Split Lake, MB

July 23—RCMP announce BS/KN as suspects in the 3 deaths, and possibly driving 2011 Toyota RAV4

July 23—Burning RAV4 reported northeast of Gillam, MB, 170km east of Split Lake, MB. Manhunt.

July 24—RCMP ID body as that of Len Dyck

July 24—RCMP confirm BS/KM connected with burnt RAV4. Manhunt, house-to-house, continues.

July 28—Alleged sighting, massive manhunt in York Landing, southwest of Gillam, but no luck

August 2- Green rowboat spotted on shore of Nelson downriver from burnt car during a helicopter search

August 4- RCMP divers will start searching a section of the Nelson River in the area of the damaged boat

References used—those below, plus many others courtesy of the Websleuths community:

RCMP not ruling out link between missing Alberni teens, body found near truck, double slaying
(The above reference has some interesting points I have not seen elsewhere, including that BS’s father said he was closer to 125lbs, not 170lbs as reported by RCMP.)

Timeline of events in the deaths of three people in northern B.C.

Teens missing after burning truck and body found in Northern BC | News

RCMP divers to begin searching river near Gillam after finding rowboat, search for B.C. fugitives continues

Respectfully, there was no July 20 gas station sighting -- the radio station news article published today citing this is not correct (and the only source to report this erroneous event 2 weeks later).

Gas station sighting occurred on July 21 & 22 at at Meadow Lake Co-op and Split Lake.

Canada - Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck, all murdered, Alaska Hwy, BC, Jul 2019 #11

 

[MistyWaters]

Respectfully, there was no July 20 gas station sighting -- the radio station news article published today citing this is not correct (and the only source to report this erroneous event 2 weeks later).

Gas station sighting occurred on July 21 at Meadow Lake.

Canada - Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck, all murdered, Alaska Hwy, BC, Jul 2019 #11

“Alberta RCMP has confirmed the two men wanted in a Canada-wide manhunt were spotted at a Fairview gas station on July 20th...

.....This is now the second confirmed sighting of the two in the province of Alberta, as Cold Lake RCMP also confirmed the two spent time in the area...”
Manhunt suspects previously spotted in Fairview: RCMP

Maybe you’re thinking of an earlier unconfirmed sighting in Meadow Lake? Fairview is another community in northern Alberta. I haven’t noticed this report retracted.

 

[scrappinkat]

My apologies, I’ve not read all the prior pages. But as soon as I heard the find of the rowboat I was reminded of this report from a few days ago. The RAV4 was found burning near Sundance Creek, which probably flows into the Nelson River. At the time I tried to locate Sundance Creek but I couldn’t find it. Has anyone here located Sundance Creek as I’m curious if the pair might’ve stolen a rowboat from nearby.

“Those officers who remain are returning to some of the areas they have already looked, including the site of a burnt-out Toyota RAV4 found near Sundance Creek, northeast of Gillam, Man., that was used by the fugitives. No reason was given.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/military-pulling-out-of-search-for-bc-fugitives-1.5231687

Sundance creek starts from the Nelson river just to the right of the red circle area.

 

[Hatfield]

Question for those more experienced with river rapids: If these two drowned a week or so ago, would it be weird for the boat only now to surface?

I dont have a lot of experience with rapids but have been on a couple raft trips in light stuff. From reading the linked article it sounded to me they spotted the boat with a helicopter so it could have overturned and stuck along the banks and they just now spotted it. So there is no telling how long its been there unless they are able to determine that.

"The green-coloured boat was spotted washed up on the shore during a helicopter search of the river on Friday afternoon."

RCMP divers to begin searching river near Gillam after finding rowboat, search for B.C. fugitives continues

 

[Satchie]

Timeline (by me, so any mistakes are mine) updated to include July 20 spotting of suspects and the latest news involving the discovery of the damaged boat, as per Websleuth friends:

July 12--BS/KM leave Port Alberni headed to Alberta or the Yukon (as per BS father or grandmother)

July 13/14--Last known contact of BS w/Carol Starkey, grandmother.

July 14 11:30PM--C. Deese and L. Fowler seen alive, at van, Alaska Highway/Hwy 97, Liard Hot Springs

July 15 6:45AM--Deese’s and Fowler’s bodies spotted behind van by trucker

July 17—RCMP says Deese, Fowler deaths are suspicious

July 18—RCMP announces Deese, Fowler as homicide victims

July 18—BS/KM spotted 350km away in Jade City store where they stopped for free coffee

July 18 3:15PM--BS/KM spotted traveling south from Super A General Store, Dease Lake

July 19—BS/KM’s burning pickup, Hwy 37, 50km south of Dease Lake, 470km from Deese/Fowler

July 19—Man’s body reported at highway pullout 2km from burning pickup truck

July 19—BS/KM announced as missing by RCMP

July 20-Alberta RCMP confirms BS/KM were spotted at a Fairview gas station

July 21--BS/KM in grey 2011 Toyota RAV4, get SUV stuck in Cold Lake, AB. A local assists them.

July 21—BS/KM recorded on security camera in store at Meadow Lake, AB

July 22—BS/KM are passed through the alcohol checkpoint by band constables at Split Lake, MB

July 23—RCMP announce BS/KN as suspects in the 3 deaths, and possibly driving 2011 Toyota RAV4

July 23—Burning RAV4 reported northeast of Gillam, MB, 170km east of Split Lake, MB. Manhunt.

July 24—RCMP ID body as that of Len Dyck

July 24—RCMP confirm BS/KM connected with burnt RAV4. Manhunt, house-to-house, continues.

July 28—Alleged sighting, massive manhunt in York Landing, southwest of Gillam, but no luck

August 2- Green rowboat spotted on shore of Nelson downriver from burnt car during a helicopter search

August 4- RCMP divers will start searching a section of the Nelson River in the area of the damaged boat

References used—those below, plus many others courtesy of the Websleuths community:

RCMP not ruling out link between missing Alberni teens, body found near truck, double slaying
(The above reference has some interesting points I have not seen elsewhere, including that BS’s father said he was closer to 125lbs, not 170lbs as reported by RCMP.)

Timeline of events in the deaths of three people in northern B.C.

Teens missing after burning truck and body found in Northern BC | News

RCMP divers to begin searching river near Gillam after finding rowboat, search for B.C. fugitives continues

There was discussion just a few pages back that confirm, through an RCMP tweet, that the RAV was burned near Fox Lake reserve on Monday July 22, not the following day.

"McLeod and Schmegelsky's Toyota Rav4 was found on fire on Monday" https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manhunt-homicide-suspects-bc-manitoba-1.5222924

IMO this is a very signicant difference: it would mean the suspects had barely arrived before they burned the vehicle. They had very little time to scout out the location for their next move, pack up what they needed, find a suitable location to burn the RAV, start the fire and hightail it to wherever they left their stuff.

 

[Zella]

There was discussion just a few pages back that confirm, through an RCMP tweet, that the RAV was burned near Fox Lake reserve on Monday July 22, not the following day.

"McLeod and Schmegelsky's Toyota Rav4 was found on fire on Monday" https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manhunt-homicide-suspects-bc-manitoba-1.5222924

IMO this is a very signicant difference: it would mean the suspects had barely arrived before they burned the vehicle. They had very little time to scout out the location for their next move, pack up what they needed, find a suitable location to burn the RAV, start the fire and hightail it to wherever they left their stuff.

Yes, that's the sequence I remember. I found it significant they burnt it before they were announced as suspects, too. It wasn't like a snap decision where they were reacting to perhaps hearing their names going out on the radio as suspects. If they had been able to follow any news, they would have just known they were considered missing. MOO

 

[MistyWaters]

I dont have a lot of experience with rapids but have been on a couple raft trips in light stuff. From reading the linked article it sounded to me they spotted the boat with a helicopter so it could have overturned and stuck along the banks and they just now spotted it. So there is no telling how long its been there unless they are able to determine that.

"The green-coloured boat was spotted washed up on the shore during a helicopter search of the river on Friday afternoon."

RCMP divers to begin searching river near Gillam after finding rowboat, search for B.C. fugitives continues

In the last PC IIRC the officer said during the first two days the weather conditions were poor and it was too windy for police to use helicopters or drones, probably that would’ve been the 25th and 26th. If so the 27th was a search day but then it was on the 28th that all eyes were on York Landing.

I agree, it’s hard to say why the boat wasn’t spotted and it could’ve also been underwater for a time, held by the current, and just recently broke free.