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

[RadarGuy]

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

Quotes from above article:

"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

This account seems a bit different from the Gray Hughes interview information. Originally I had thought the husband and wife were travelling together

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

Quotes from above article:

"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".

This account seems a bit different from the Gray Hughes interview information. Originally I had thought the husband and wife were travelling together when they stopped to see if the blue van needed assistance based on the Gray Hughes interview. This account makes it seem that the husband and wife both encountered the van at different times 20 min apart and that the wife didn't stop (but did call RCMP) while her husband did stop and had a short encounter with the people in the blue van.

Hello all. My first post here on websleuths. Maybe the hubby is a suspect? I guess we can’t know for now

 

[RadarGuy]

Could be a reason the hubby who passed 20 mins later - drives alone. Maybe he likes peace & quiet, or was a logistic thing ?

 

[otto]

I'm more curious about the burned truck now. Two victims found on the morning of July 15, another victim found on July 19. If they are related, and it certainly seems possible, the suspect has been in the area for 5 days. Does that mean he lives in the area, or is he nomadic like Gary Hilton (Meredith Emerson, NC)?

 

[afitzy]

Could be a reason the hubby who passed 20 mins later - drives alone. Maybe he likes peace & quiet, or was a logistic thing ?

I believe the husband that drove by 20 min later had the couples 2 children in his vehicle.

 

[zecats]

Could be a reason the hubby who passed 20 mins later - drives alone. Maybe he likes peace & quiet, or was a logistic thing ?

Welcome @RadarGuy and thanks for the post. Curious that comment and wondered myself why the husband was alone and also passed the couple 20 minutes before the wife and her female car mates. I wouldn't suspect him though as he passed them first and also his wife is aware. JMO

 

[otto]

Hello all. My first post here on websleuths. Maybe the hubby is a suspect? I guess we can’t know for now

It doesn't seem like it. The RCMP press release suggests that something happened in the evening - after the husband and wife were in the area.

 

[RadarGuy]

Welcome @RadarGuy and thanks for the post. Curious that comment and wondered myself why the husband was alone and also passed the couple 20 minutes before the wife and her female car mates. I wouldn't suspect him though as he passed them first and also his wife is aware. JMO

Wow. Now I hear he passed 1st & has kids in the car! I guess it will get a little clearer soon. These poor travellers - such a sad situation!

 

[janewall]

A respectful request to mappers - please include some sort of directional indicator with your map screenshots! The Google compass indicator is fine, or simply say "(direction) is up" if it's not indicated on the map. Given the vastness of the area and lack of manman artefacts, it's helpful in pinpointing locations of particular screenshots. Thank you all so much! (I am a total map geek, and I appreciate all marked-up maps and photos.)

 

[otto]

A respectful request to mappers - please include some sort of directional indicator with your map screenshots! The Google compass indicator is fine, or simply say "(direction) is up" if it's not indicated on the map. Given the vastness of the area and lack of manman artefacts, it's helpful in pinpointing locations of particular screenshots. Thank you all so much! (I am a total map geek, and I appreciate all marked-up maps and photos.)

Every map I post is Up = North.

 

[otto]

I'm curious about the man who was found near the burning truck. His name has not yet been released, nor cause of death. If he was shot, I'm inclined to think they are related and that no one who is stopped along the highway is safe for now. It also suggests that the suspect is travelling South.

 

[zecats]

I'm curious about the man who was found near the burning truck. His name has not yet been released, nor cause of death. If he was shot, I'm inclined to think they are related and that no one who is stopped along the highway is safe for now. It also suggests that the suspect is travelling South.

Or made a loop. North on 97 and south on 37. Am I remembering the road numbers correctly and the location of the male found dead with burning truck?

 

[zecats]

Name of Ranch where Lucas worked since February.

Australian man and girlfriend murdered in Canada travelled world together after meeting in Croatia | News You May Be Able To Use
Mr Fowler was working at Venator Ranches in Hudson’s Hope, in remote British Columbia by February.

Possible route - headed north?
Google Maps

 

[otto]

I'm surprised that 4 days after the bodies were discovered, RCMP were uncertain whether they were the van owners.

"Deese's family told the Observer the killings were reportedly so brutal they won't be able to have an open casket funeral, and that Canadian police have been tight-lipped. It reportedly took three days for police to identify the bodies, according to family. Homicide investigators had to travel to the crime scene from Prince George — about 1,100 kilometres away — after the bodies were discovered early Monday around 7 a.m....

Mounties said Friday they were trying to determine whether the couple were the owners and drivers of the van, a blue 1986 Chevrolet with Alberta licence plates, or whether it belonged to someone else."​

Alaska Highway homicide victims last seen smiling, planned to visit Canada's parks

 

[afitzy]

A respectful request to mappers - please include some sort of directional indicator with your map screenshots! The Google compass indicator is fine, or simply say "(direction) is up" if it's not indicated on the map. Given the vastness of the area and lack of manman artefacts, it's helpful in pinpointing locations of particular screenshots. Thank you all so much! (I am a total map geek, and I appreciate all marked-up maps and photos.)

Do you have any suggestions on how to mark up a photograph/screenshot? Glad to comply with your request but need some help.

 

[otto]

Or made a loop. North on 97 and south on 37. Am I remembering the road numbers correctly and the location of the male found dead with burning truck?

I think that's the only option. North from the van to Liard Hot Springs and then South towards Dease Lake.

 

[afitzy]

Has anyone read anything about cell service in the area where the blue van was found? I've been trying to research cell towers and service providers and am struggling. One of the witnesses mentioned in her commentary about cell service cutting in and out. I haven't heard either whether any of the victims had a cell phone or whether any attempts were made by any of the victims to call RCMP.

 

[zecats]

Has anyone read anything about cell service in the area where the blue van was found? I've been trying to research cell towers and service providers and am struggling. One of the witnesses mentioned in her commentary about cell service cutting in and out. I haven't heard either whether any of the victims had a cell phone or whether any attempts were made by any of the victims to call RCMP.

Must be if one of the passersby called RCMP, unless of course they didn't call until they arrived home.

 

[kritafo]

What happened to tourist couple found dead on Alaska Highway?

Says in this article that the van was purchased from the ranch, a little digging and the ranchers moved from Alberta to BC, so that is where the Alberta plates come into play.
oddly enough on LF Couchsurfing profile it says he's a mechanic.

 

[zecats]

What happened to tourist couple found dead on Alaska Highway?

Says in this article that the van was purchased from the ranch, a little digging and the ranchers moved from Alberta to BC, so that is where the Alberta plates come into play.
oddly enough on LF Couchsurfing profile it says he's a mechanic.

Well that solves the mystery of the van then. He did get it from the ranch. Most likely to use on this trip and then he could resell it before retuning to Australia.

 

[otto]

Name of Ranch where Lucas worked since February.

Australian man and girlfriend murdered in Canada travelled world together after meeting in Croatia | News You May Be Able To Use
Mr Fowler was working at Venator Ranches in Hudson’s Hope, in remote British Columbia by February.

Possible route - headed north?
Google Maps

I thought they were heading to the ranch for a branding, and then taking 3 weeks to drive through National Parks in Northern Canada. That doesn't really make much sense though. They were North of the ranch when murdered, so why would they head South to the ranch and then retrace their steps to travel to Northern Canada.

I think the van was heading South in the photos. I'm wondering where they were coming from. RCMP said they were trying to trace their movements in the last few days - all a bit of a mystery right now.

How did they have a vehicle registered and insured in a province where neither had an address? Either it was borrowed, or something slightly irregular happened - some loophole.