CANADA - Lucas Fowler, Australian & g/f Chynna Deese, American, murdered, Alaska Hwy, BC, Jul 2019

[zecats]

Not likely, just noting because LE are not certain where this American fugitive may be hiding in Canada, fwiw..
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/murder-suspect-texas-manitoba-1.5205156
Derek Whisenand, 27, could be armed and is considered dangerous, say police
Jul 09, 2019
Ws thread.
RCMP warning,Texas murder suspect,Derek Whisenan,crossed border into Manitoba.

I remember seeing that earlier. Would he want to call attention to himself by killing while hiding in Canada? However, if motive was robbery, could be the need for money and then to hush them up. Scary thought, but a good one.

 

[zecats]

I remember seeing that earlier. Would he want to call attention to himself by killing while hiding in Canada? However, if motive was robbery, could be the need for money and then to hush them up. Scary thought, but a good one.

And wow...talk about wrong place wrong time, if it is connected.

 

[otto]

Here's the first press conference:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=389706111901542

Thank you!
RCMP were called to the area at 7:19AM on Monday morning. They've narrowed the timeline to between 4PM Sunday to 8AM Monday.

Does that mean that the husband and wife passed by 20 minutes apart at 4PM and contacted RCMP but no action was taken until another call was put in at 7:19AM, or does that mean that they were traveling at 7:19AM and RCMP immediately responded to that call?

It sounds like police believe something happened in the evening.

This also confirms that the RCMP Major Crimes Unit is working with New South Wales officers and FBI on this investigation.

 

[otto]

Carrie Hawryluk of Fort Nelson, B.C., says she saw a young couple matching the description of Fowler and Deese by the side of the Alaska Highway on Sunday afternoon.

“We just saw their van on the side of the road and we saw a young couple, and the van hood was up like it had broken down and they were sitting in some lawn chairs in the ditch,” she said.

She said her husband, who had driven by about 20 minutes earlier, saw the pair and slowed down to approach, but “the couple didn’t really indicate that they were having problems.”

Hawryluk, who was travelling with her two aunts and a female cousin, said she hesitated to stop due to safety concerns but notified RCMP.

Tourists found dead along B.C.’s Alaska Highway appear to have been shot: NSW police

So it appears that there were 3 sets of witnesses: The Broughtons,, Mr Hawryluk who was alone in his vehicle, and his wife who was accompanied by 3 relatives in a second vehicle.

This helps clear up the timeline. The husband and wife passed by on Sunday afternoon, and according to the wife she notified RCMP at that time. That means that RCMP did not respond to her call.

Someone else notified RCMP at 7:19AM on Monday and RCMP did respond. I suppose that means that there was no sign of crime on Sunday afternoon, but a definite sign on Monday morning.

 

[zecats]

This helps clear up the timeline. The husband and wife passed by on Sunday afternoon, and according to the wife she notified RCMP at that time. That means that RCMP did not respond to her call.

Someone else notified RCMP at 7:19AM on Monday and RCMP did respond. I suppose that means that there was no sign of crime on Sunday afternoon, but a definite sign on Monday morning.

Likely the first notification to RCMP was of a potentially broken down vehicle and stranded motorists. Is that enough to prompt a call to LE, assuming Chynna and Lucas were ok at this point?

 

[otto]

These appear to be some kind of man-made drainage ditches of some form. Just a few metres beyond these ditches flows Trout River, which the road runs parallel to for much of its length.

The ditch closest to the van in the crime scene photos (opposite the open passenger door) cannot be seen on Google Street view, as these images were taken in August 2009 some time before that ditch was created. The ditch appears to have since been created somewhere at or just past the location of the yellow and red stakes visible between the road shoulder and the tree line.

Is it your understanding that they were heading South when they were murdered?

 

[scapa]

I remember seeing that earlier. Would he want to call attention to himself by killing while hiding in Canada? However, if motive was robbery, could be the need for money and then to hush them up. Scary thought, but a good one.

I was thinking about that very case yesterday when this alert came up. May not be this guy, but would be useful to rule him out -- although IIRC news reports had him heading east.

 

[TheSecondLaw]

Regarding moonlight : The moon was waxing to almost a complete full moon on the night to the morning of the 14th to 15th. Looking at weather records I don't believe there was any rainfall noted in BC, but I have yet been able to locate any info on cloud cover in the area. This near full moonlight could be a contributing factor toward the activities of persons being able to act covertly without the assistance of vehicle / torch lights. This is assuming of course the scenario that LF & CD remained in the spot after sundown, before they were killed.

One possible theory : LF & CD were still having car troubles, or the car was ultimately fine and they simply decide to camp up at the spot for the night. After sundown, the alleged attacker(s) passes by and either apprehends them immediately, or continues further down the road, parks up out of site from the couple past the bend, then sneaks up for an ambush. IMO.

It's possible that the attack occurred during daylight / twilight but this would have been very brazen, and increased the likeliness of other traffic spotting the bodies in the light before it got too dark. The reports that I read stated that the bodies were found near the car, but not specifically where or how visible the bodies were (if at all) from passing traffic.

 

[otto]

Likely the first notification to RCMP was of a potentially broken down vehicle and stranded motorists. Is that enough to prompt a call to LE, assuming Chynna and Lucas were ok at this point?

That's what I'm thinking. RCMP got the first call sometime around 4PM on Sunday afternoon. A stalled vehicle and no indication of distress probably didn't concern RCMP.

Things must have looked very different at 7:19AM. I read something about them being found near the van.

 

[thebedbug]

There are very evil people out there with no regard for human life. They'd kill someone for $10 just to eliminate a witness or even for a thrill.

 

[zecats]

That's what I'm thinking. RCMP got the first call sometime around 4PM on Sunday afternoon. A stalled vehicle and no indication of distress probably didn't concern RCMP.

Things must have looked very different at 7:19AM. I read something about them being found near the van.

And not being able to be identified for 3 days. Family in Australia didn't get the word right away nor did her family in NC. If wallets were taken, then that would make it difficult, except for van registration and license plate. I'm sadly thinking they may have been unrecognizable due to brutal way they were killed. JMO

 

[otto]

Regarding moonlight : The moon was waxing to almost a complete full moon on the night to the morning of the 14th to 15th. Looking at weather records I don't believe there was any rainfall noted in BC, but I have yet been able to locate any info on cloud cover in the area. This near full moonlight could be a contributing factor toward the activities of persons being able to act covertly without the assistance of vehicle / torch lights. This is assuming of course the scenario that LF & CD remained in the spot after sundown, before they were killed.

One possible theory : LF & CD were still having car troubles, or the car was ultimately fine and they simply decide to camp up at the spot for the night. After sundown, the alleged attacker(s) passes by and either apprehends them immediately, or continues further down the road, parks up out of site from the couple past the bend, then sneaks up for an ambush. IMO.

It's possible that the attack occurred during daylight / twilight but this would have been very brazen, and increased the likeliness of other traffic spotting the bodies in the light before it got too dark. The reports that I read stated that the bodies were found near the car, but not specifically where or how visible the bodies were (if at all) from passing traffic.

That's an interesting possibility. A car could easily be hidden in this area, and someone could catch them off guard by walking the half mile along Trout River from the parking area to the van. That would also ensure that other vehicles did not see a second vehicle parked next to the van.

 

[Strangeworld]

That's what I'm thinking. RCMP got the first call sometime around 4PM on Sunday afternoon. A stalled vehicle and no indication of distress probably didn't concern RCMP.

Things must have looked very different at 7:19AM. I read something about them being found near the van.

A question for the locals, would you expect the RCMP to respond to a call to a vehicle breakdown in the area? In Australia, I would expect a police callout in these circumstances would have prompted a response - for the risk to passing traffic, but also because of the location for the safety of the individuals stranded.

 

[otto]

And not being able to be identified for 3 days. Family in Australia didn't get the word right away nor did her family in NC. If wallets were taken, then that would make it difficult, except for van registration and license plate. I'm sadly thinking they may have been unrecognizable due to brutal way they were killed. JMO

One of the articles posted yesterday said that RCMP finally found her passport hidden in the van. That does raise a question about the registration and insurance of the vehicle. The plates should have immediately linked to Lucas or Chynna. Was it a borrowed vehicle?

They would need a permanent Alberta address to register and insure a vehicle with Alberta licence plates, but we have only heard that he worked in BC and she had just arrived.

There must be a story to the van, why it is registered in Alberta when neither of them lived in Alberta, and why RCMP could not immediately link the vehicle to the victims.

 

[zecats]

That's an interesting possibility. A car could easily be hidden in this area, and someone could catch them off guard by walking the half mile along Trout River from the parking area to the van. That would also ensure that other vehicles did not see a second vehicle parked next to the van.

View attachment 194203

As in drove past them and noticed an opportunity? Carried a gun along with intention of at least robbery. Probably intention of killing them as well.

Is that a pullout? Or side road?

 

[otto]

A question for the locals, would you expect the RCMP to respond to a call to a vehicle breakdown in the area? In Australia, I would expect a police callout in these circumstances would have prompted a response - for the risk to passing traffic, but also because of the location for the safety of the individuals stranded.

I doubt that police would respond to a report about a couple having a snack in lawn chairs on the side of the highway, especially since the woman's husband slowed down and was waived along as though everything was fine. If there's no indication of a crime, there's no reason to respond.

 

[otto]

As in drove past them and noticed and opportunity? Carried a gun along with intention of at least robbery. Probably intention of killing them as well.

Is that a pullout? Or side road?

It's a road.

 

[Strangeworld]

I doubt that police would respond to a report about a couple having a snack in lawn chairs on the side of the highway, especially since the woman's husband slowed down and was waived along as though everything was fine. If there's no indication of a crime, there's no reason to respond.

That's true. I guess it depends on what was said during the call. But if the van was parked very close to the road, and that was said in the call, that would be enough for a public safety matter. I wonder what prompted her to make the call, as that would suggest what she said during the call.

 

[zecats]

One of the articles posted yesterday said that RCMP finally found her passport hidden in the van. That does raise a question about the registration and insurance of the vehicle. The plates should have immediately linked to Lucas or Chynna. Was it a borrowed vehicle?

They would need a permanent Alberta address to register and insure a vehicle with Alberta licence plates, but we have only heard that he worked in BC and she had just arrived.

There must be a story to the van, why it is registered in Alberta when neither of them lived in Alberta, and why RCMP could not immediately link the vehicle to the victims.

I'm wondering too about the vehicle. Borrowed from the ranch? Or maybe was his to use while he worked the ranch? I can't see him coming for temp work branding cattle for a couple months and buying a vehicle for that short time. And a rental? Nothing like any rentals I've ever driven.

 

[zecats]

It's a road.

View attachment 194208

Good find.