Canada - Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck, all murdered, Alaska Hwy, BC, Jul 2019 #13

[sprucetip]

During the past few years, Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese lived a full life, volunteered, made many friends, found love, travelled widely.

They really did live life to its fullest. I’m sad their adventurous souls couldn’t explore the Yukon and Alaska. They would have fit in so well, probably had a blast and would have met lots of wonderful people. It’s unbelievably sad that K&B (allegedly) took their bright futures away.

 

[Jen-Knee]

This Canadian thinks that LE did a pretty good job. The area where LF and CD were murdered was quite a distance away from where the suspects burnt their vehicle and where LD was found. It took them time to identify them. People were aware of what was going on to a point, as it should be. It's not the job of LE to satisfy idle curiosity. It's their job to investigate and build a case. Unless there is a serial killer stalking a highway, I wouldn't expect them to put up travel warnings. Is there room for improvement? Of course, there always is. But considering what we do know, and how far across the country this has gone, I think they did a good job. Especially LE in Manitoba. They held multiple press conferences and searched an area that was really difficult.

 

[Deleted member 248860]

My point is that although people in Dease Lake, Liard Hot Springs, the Alaska Hwy and Gillam area were all warned about an RCMP major crime unit investigation related to suspicious deaths, that did not prevent people from being in those areas, driving the highways and picking berries.

True, although I’m not sure that I’d be out picking berries More like, let’s just keep driving and only stop when there are people around.

Given his background and profession, it’s entirely possible that Dyck never even heard about the RCMP statement, especially if he was on a collecting trip.

 

[Snoop Sister]

Welcome back I haven't even heard that without a credible link LOL

Lol thank you. I have missed you guys here!!

 

[Zella]

With all due respect to the attorney being interviewed, I don't think he has any inside information. I just got to the point where he states that in the interview, but the entire discussion beforehand, he has clearly not been operating with any insider knowledge. I think he confused the burning truck with the body. I could be wrong, but that's my read on it. MOO

 

[Optics]

And yet Canadians have been criticizing the RCMP left and right in this case, including on this board -- for example it was suggested greater transparency about the threat to the area may have saved Prof Dyck's life. Apparently this policy isn't going so well for you guys.

In all fairness people who've had a negative experience with police will tend to speak negatively toward them. The fact and truth is the majority of public has no issues with the RCMP or how they handle cases. This is and has been a complex case which has had many twists and turns - as in any law enforcement investigations - it is ludicrous for LE to report every detail to the general public. From BC to Manitoba as we 'keyboard' there are countless experts sifting through the evidence accumulated so far. This is not a quick case to say John Doe threatened Bob Doe, so Bob Doe killed him. Forensics take time, autopsies take time. Searchs and establishing a trail of evidence and connecting the dots takes time.

 

[Link Haze]

That’s possible.

But I don’t get why there’s no note, at least that we know of.

I think there are 2 types of suicide, but common denominator is deep depression. You have those who are is such mental pain and anguish, that the thought of death is much more pleasurable than life. Some people are happy at the thought their pain will be over soon and take meticulous steps to ensure they leave an explanation of why, and instructions on their behalf (where to find a will, taking care of unfinished business, etc). Then you have the other type, that do it out of spite/defiance/revenge... "They'll be sorry when I'm dead", type of scenario. Taking out others before taking out themselves. No note, no explanation whatsoever and an aspect of shame that goes with it. Making a "killem" fantasy come true just to experience what it's like to take someone's life. Pathetic.

 

[otto]

True, although I’m not sure that I’d be out picking berries

Given his background and profession, it’s entirely possible that Dyck never even heard about the RCMP statement.

Yes and no. University researchers tend to stay on top of the news, in part because innovative discoveries are reported in the daily news. This article is unrelated to this discussion, but it is an example of research that was published in national and international news. As a botanist, Dyck would also be interested in local weather. I would be very surprised if a 60+ year old academic and researcher was unaware of daily news. Doing so would be a type of handicap in his professional life.

 

[Zella]

Yes and no. University researchers tend to stay on top of the news, in part because innovative discoveries are reported in the daily news. This article is unrelated to this discussion, but it is an example of research that was published in national and international news. As a botanist, Dyck would also be interested in local weather. I would be very surprised if a 60+ year old academic and researcher was unaware of daily news. Doing so would be a type of handicap in his professional life.

Yes, this has been more my experience, though, admittedly, the professors I knew were in the humanities rather than the sciences. But overall I've found university professors to be people who do keep up with the news more so than other folks. I think some of it is for professional reasons and some of it is probably just having an innately curious personality that enjoys being well-informed.

That's a good point about the weather--would definitely be of interest to him.

 

[copkid]

Is there any information available that tells us how long the truck and camper were burning before being discovered/reported?
Someone must have called the Fire Dept.

Any info on what caused the truck fire? Could it be caused from propane in the camper being left turned on, or a propane leak?

The belief is that they torched it themselves.

I understand that it is "the belief" but have there been any confirmed statements from LE that the truck was torched on purpose? Can that even be determined?

 

[Deleted member 248860]

I think there are 2 types of suicide, but common denominator is deep depression. You have those who are is such mental pain and anguish, that the thought of death is much more pleasurable than life. Some people are happy at the thought their pain will be over soon and take meticulous steps to ensure they leave an explanation of why, and instructions on their behalf (where to find a will, taking care of unfinished business, etc). Then you have the other type, that do it out of spite/defiance/revenge... "They'll be sorry when I'm dead", type of scenario. Taking out others before taking out themselves. No note, no explanation whatsoever and an aspect of shame that goes with it. Making a "killem" fantasy come true just to experience what it's like to take someone's life. Pathetic.

That’s entirely possible. If there’s no note (and there may be one), I’m just a bit surprised given that McLeod had a sister and what appears to be a fairly normal family, and that Schmelnitsky, at least, appears to have been pretty plugged into the gaming community. Maybe, in reality, he despised the Steam crowd.

 

[Snoop Sister]

That’s entirely possible. If there’s no note (and there may be one), I’m just a bit surprised given that McLeod had a sisterand what appears to be a fairly normal family, and that Schmelnitsky, at least, appears to have been pretty plugged into the gaming community. Maybe, in reality, he despised the Steam crowd.

@rrstren I am sorry but I am not understanding the part about the sister statement...perhaps I am vehicle lagged. Would you please elaborate?

 

[Link Haze]

That’s entirely possible. If there’s no note (and there may be one), I’m just a bit surprised given that McLeod had a sister and what appears to be a fairly normal family, and that Schmelnitsky, at least, appears to have been pretty plugged into the gaming community. Maybe, in reality, he despised the Steam crowd.

I'm assuming Schmegelsky is an only child? I have never heard of any siblings.

That’s entirely possible. If there’s no note (and there may be one), I’m just a bit surprised given that McLeod had a sister and what appears to be a fairly normal family, and that Schmelnitsky, at least, appears to have been pretty plugged into the gaming community. Maybe, in reality, he despised the Steam crowd.

I know, I'm surprised too at the difference in family dynamics (for what we know of it anyway). One of them was obviously very influential to the other. Seems there's always a leader and a follower.

 

[Zella]

That’s entirely possible. If there’s no note (and there may be one), I’m just a bit surprised given that McLeod had a sister and what appears to be a fairly normal family, and that Schmelnitsky, at least, appears to have been pretty plugged into the gaming community. Maybe, in reality, he despised the Steam crowd.

I think it's possible they delighted in confounding people. I also wonder if, deep down, Kam despised his family, though they really do seem normal to all appearances. But quite a bit of his actions on this trip are the equivalent of basically giving them the middle finger. Bryer, too, but I can see why he would be mad at his parents and want to give them the equivalent of the middle finger.

I'm not even talking about the murders. I'm talking about likely lying about where they were going, burning a truck that very well may have been a gift, not contacting them, etc.

 

[Zella]

I'm assuming Schmegelsky is an only child? I have never heard of any siblings.

I know, I'm surprised too at the difference in family dynamics (for what we know of it anyway). One of them was obviously very influential to the other. Seems there's always a leader and a follower.

I've never heard of any siblings for him, either, so I have always assumed BS was an only kid, as well.

 

[Link Haze]

I think it's possible they delighted in confounding people. I also wonder if, deep down, Kam despised his family, though they really do seem normal to all appearances. But quite a bit of his actions on this trip are the equivalent of basically giving them a middle finger. Bryer, too, but I can see why he would be mad at his parents and want to give them the equivalent of the middle finger.

I'm not even talking about the murders. I'm talking about likely lying about where they were going, burning a truck that very well may have been a gift, not contacting them, etc.

Absolutely!

 

[Deleted member 248860]

Many years ago, I worked with a young man their age who killed someone with a rifle, and who was eventually found not criminally responsible due to mental illness.

It turned out that a lot of people, including adult family members and school teachers, knew, or should have known, for a long time that there was a problem.

I would not be surprised if, in retrospect, it is clear that there should have been an intervention with these guys a long time ago.

 

[Gina20]

My point is that although people in Dease Lake, Liard Hot Springs, the Alaska Hwy and Gillam area were all warned about an RCMP major crime unit investigation related to suspicious deaths, that did not prevent people from being in those areas, driving the highways and picking berries.

I guess we could tread down the path of how the information was disseminated, and whether all people in areas with no cell coverage could get information, and whether "suspicious death" means executed at close range by gunfire when information about weapons is withheld, or if this means another fentanyl death in the minds of average people -- but this has already been discussed at length.

We all know that police on Highway 97 (Alaska Highway), and in the recent Highway 29 incident, did not retreat citing concerns for their own safety.

So why in a remote area of Manitoba, where it would have been possible to contain and/or patrol the area, would police find it too dangerous to investigate a crime scene, yet let the public enter the area? If it was too dangerous for the police, why was a tow truck driver allowed into the area?

The explanation offered for not checking out evidence at the scene of a crime is substandard at best. Surely days and weeks later, that becomes an excuse, rather than an explanation.

I feel sorry for the tow truck driver now, wondering if the authorities informed him that he would be putting his life in danger by towing the SUV. I would really like to hear what he has to say, if any reporters are reading this. Do RCMP typically accompany tow trucks to the scene of vehicle fires up there?

Oh, boy, question period in the fall session of parliament is going to be a zinger.

 

[Link Haze]

Many years ago, I worked with a young man their age who killed someone with a rifle, and who was eventually found not criminally responsible due to mental illness.

It turned out that a lot of people, including adult family members and school teachers, knew, or should have known, for a long time that there was a problem.

I would not be surprised if, in retrospect, it is clear that there should have been an intervention with these guys a long time ago.

Oh yeah!

 

[SiciC]

That’s entirely possible. If there’s no note (and there may be one), I’m just a bit surprised given that McLeod had a sister and what appears to be a fairly normal family, and that Schmelnitsky, at least, appears to have been pretty plugged into the gaming community. Maybe, in reality, he despised the Steam crowd.

Jeez I just have to say what a good laugh I just had at "Schmelnitsky", just cause I had the hardest time pronouncing the "Schmegelsky" name even in my head at first, and saw a good amount of news reporters also struggling with the name. LOL. Carry on.