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

[MistyWaters]

During an investigation evidence is collected at the crime scene and analyzed at the laboratory. The van would have been towed by the RCMP to a secure laboratory for analysis.

It would be unheard of for police to cover a broken window and use masking tape to secure it. My guess would be that it was broken and covered by Lucas prior to the murder.

If I were betting, I’d say the window was like that prior to the murders as well. Given the ‘86 van was also overheating on their road trip it appears to be an economical purchase that had seen better days.

 

[Gardenista]

During an investigation evidence is collected at the crime scene and analyzed at the laboratory. The van would have been towed by the RCMP to a secure laboratory for analysis.

It would be unheard of for police to cover a broken window and use masking tape to secure it. My guess would be that it was broken and covered by Lucas prior to the murder.

It wasn't in a secure laboratory when the photo was taken. It's in the RCMP lot.

 

[zecats]

If I were betting, I’d say the window was like that prior to the murders as well. Given the ‘86 van was also overheating on their road trip it appears to be an economical purchase that had seen better days.

Reports from witness have stated right rear window was smashed in. No one mentioned it was taped up. Those would be different descriptions worth noting. IMO

 

[minorone]

It wasn't in a secure laboratory when the photo was taken. It's in the RCMP lot.

Do we know who took the picture. I would think only certain people would have access to the RCMP lot.

Perhaps samples are taken from the van at the RCMP lot and then all analysis is done at their criminal laboratory. I imagine the lab analysis would be done in Vancouver.

National Forensic Laboratory Services - Royal Canadian Mounted Police

 

[MistyWaters]

I wonder why this possibility arose.

“RCMP say a blue 1986 Chevrolet minivan with Alberta plates was found at the scene, and are looking to speak with anyone who may have seen the vehicle or tried to help the victims. Police are trying to determine whether they or someone else were driving the van...”
No truth to serial killer rumours after young travellers murdered in northeastern B.C. - KamloopsMatters.com

 

[Deleted member 83851]

G'day Trooper, how ya going mate.

Yeah, very sad story here. And I have a bad gut feeling about those missing young guys from Port Alberni.

Something someone upthread (daikon radish) said about a possible sequence of events:

killing/robbery of Lucas and Chynna
then hijacking the two boys's truck,
possible killings,
burning out their truck,
hijacking unknown man's vehicle and his killing.

Moo

 

[TheSecondLaw]

My impression from the description of how he was standing, palms up, leaning in, was almost a "pleading" stance, but that doesn't make sense if he's the shooter. It's possible that he gestured like that when the witness drove by, and then returned to a more aggressive stance.

Perhaps, if the bearded man is the responsible individual, during the 'pleading' stance he may of been going on some sort of rant, as his behaviour and state escalated to increasingly aggressive levels. The position of the van may not have necessarily been a contributing factor towards the killers behaviour besides simply falling into his sights. Perhaps I'm biased by my own experiences with encountering irrationally aggressive strangers, but the killer may have been triggered by some completely absurd notion and did not necessarily intend on killing unless they deemed it necessary.

I'm in all likeliness overplaying the degree of this individual's potentially unbalanced mental state, but this POI's mindset may have been the tragically incorrect notion that they were acting in self defence - When in reality it was poor Lucas and Chynna who were the ones who needed defending from him.

This is of course just one of any number of potential scenarios based on what we the public currently know.

All speculation and MOO

 

[Seattle1]

I wonder why this possibility arose.

“RCMP say a blue 1986 Chevrolet minivan with Alberta plates was found at the scene, and are looking to speak with anyone who may have seen the vehicle or tried to help the victims. Police are trying to determine whether they or someone else were driving the van...”
No truth to serial killer rumours after young travellers murdered in northeastern B.C. - KamloopsMatters.com

The report cited is from 20 July 2010 at 7am or early in the investigation.

It follows that investigators would like to determine if a third party was traveling with the couple -- and especially if they disappeared from the scene of this horrific crime. Investigators are in search of a suspect.

 

[afitzy]

The report cited is from 20 July 2010 at 7am or early in the investigation.

It follows that investigators would like to determine if a third party was traveling with the couple -- and especially if they disappeared from the scene of this horrific crime. Investigators are in search of a suspect.

This is an interesting line of inquiry I think.

One of the Canadian news crews over the weekend drove down the highway and showed footage that people are still actively hitchhiking in the region.

I wonder if the hitchhikers are aware of what has been going on with these various events in the region? Now it seems BC RCMP have issued an alert of some sort so hopefully the hitchhikers will be made aware. MOO

 

[Herat]

This is an interesting line of inquiry I think.

One of the Canadian news crews over the weekend drove down the highway and showed footage that people are still actively hitchhiking in the region.

I wonder if the hitchhikers are aware of what has been going on with these various events in the region? Now it seems BC RCMP have issued an alert of some sort so hopefully the hitchhikers will be made aware. MOO

I believe we’ve been told the assailant took L&C’s ID and probably their cash and credit cards, which probably wasn’t a huge amount, but enough for beer & gas.

I expect RCMP have been going through all the gas, alcohol, & food purchases within a gas tanks range of the blue van.

Which poses the question- did he steal their gas, too?

 

[gitana1]

During an investigation evidence is collected at the crime scene and analyzed at the laboratory. The van would have been towed by the RCMP to a secure laboratory for analysis.

It would be unheard of for police to cover a broken window and use masking tape to secure it. My guess would be that it was broken and covered by Lucas prior to the murder.

Why would it be unheard of?

If they were worried that pieces of glass from the window which could contain DNA or fingerprints or maybe ballistics info, might be dislodged during transport, they may indeed cover the area with a trash bag with tape around it to hold any evidence in.

 

[Herat]

The report cited is from 20 July 2010 at 7am or early in the investigation.

It follows that investigators would like to determine if a third party was traveling with the couple -- and especially if they disappeared from the scene of this horrific crime. Investigators are in search of a suspect.

Interesting. Certainly is possible.

It would help to know the type of weapon used. I believe some upthread had postulated it was a shotgun.

I dont think many hitchhikers carry firearms, far less shotguns.

But wouldn’t be unusual for someone to have in their pickup

 

[1987]

I don't understand the side doors, as in both being open unless they were already open before confrontation. I have a van like this that is one model year newer, the second back side door is very hard to open and has always been very hard to open. on mine the back side door closest to the front side door has to be open then you can get to the handle that opens second door. with the first door closed there is no exposed handle on outside or inside. if fleeing that operation of second door takes valuable time and for the killer I wouldn't think they would be wanting to hang around to try to get second door open. one door open gives plenty of room to get in and out, this makes me think both doors were open already before incident began.

 

[dotr]

Update expected after road worker finds U.S., Australian couple dead on B.C. highway
"Mounties are expected to provide an update on an investigation into a double homicide that occurred in northern B.C. last week.

The RCMP said it was "committed to holding a media availability" Monday, though officials have not yet said when or where it will be. CTV News Vancouver will attend the news conference and will provide full coverage as details become available."

"In the ditch was the lady first, young lady, and maybe five metres behind was the gentleman. He had no shoes. The young lady had one," Trevor Pierre said.

Mounties have not said exactly how the tourists died, but Pierre described the scene as gruesome.

"I don't know how anybody could live with themselves after doing what I saw."

Over the weekend, a witness told Australian media she'd seen Deese and Fowler with a bearded man a short time before their deaths.

Alandra Hull said she'd driven past them Sunday evening, and saw what appeared to be a heated exchange."

"The investigation is ongoing, and the RCMP is looking to speak to anyone who'd seen the couple or the van. Anyone with dash cam video is also asked to come forward.

Tips can be left with the Northern Rockies RCMP at 250-774-2700 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers."

 

[1987]

I wonder why this possibility arose.

“RCMP say a blue 1986 Chevrolet minivan with Alberta plates was found at the scene, and are looking to speak with anyone who may have seen the vehicle or tried to help the victims. Police are trying to determine whether they or someone else were driving the van...”
No truth to serial killer rumours after young travellers murdered in northeastern B.C. - KamloopsMatters.com

this says MINI van. the pics I keep seeing are a full size van.

 

[dotr]

Not necessarily connected to this case but..????
Started thread for the other, other missing men whose abandoned vehicle was located..
CANADA - Surrey, B.C, Ryan Provencher, 38, and Richard Scurr, 37, jeep found abandoned,17 July 2019

 

[Sillybilly]

The RCMP said it was "committed to holding a media availability" Monday, though officials have not yet said when or where it will be. CTV News Vancouver will attend the news conference and will provide full coverage as details become available.

 

[Satchie]

It wasn't in a secure laboratory when the photo was taken. It's in the RCMP lot.

The van was towed to Fort Nelson, population 5,900. There's a photo of the unimpressive detachment building on their website: Northern Rockies detachment - British Columbia

No police labs there, I guarantee. If they have an indoor garage, it would be contaminated. Leaving the van outdoors, as far from other vehicles and people as possible, is probably the best they could do.

It's possible that the van would be taken by tractor trailer to a lab down south if anyone needed to examine it again, but meanwhile, it was searched thoroughly on site.

 

[Betty P]

Not necessarily connected to this case but..????
Started thread for the other, other missing men whose abandoned vehicle was located..
CANADA - Surrey, B.C, Ryan Provencher, 38, and Richard Scurr, 37, jeep found abandoned,17 July 2019

It sounds somewhat similar to the missing young men whose camper van was found burning in Deas Lake, BC. For those who are local, do these kinds of crimes happen frequently in BC?

 

[Satchie]

I don't understand the side doors, as in both being open unless they were already open before confrontation. I have a van like this that is one model year newer, the second back side door is very hard to open and has always been very hard to open. on mine the back side door closest to the front side door has to be open then you can get to the handle that opens second door. with the first door closed there is no exposed handle on outside or inside. if fleeing that operation of second door takes valuable time and for the killer I wouldn't think they would be wanting to hang around to try to get second door open. one door open gives plenty of room to get in and out, this makes me think both doors were open already before incident began.

The photo was taken some time after it had been examined by police, there are evidence markers on the ground. So possibly police opened the side door(s).