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

[MistyWaters]

I think they reached the end of the road on PR290, both literally and figuratively.

The RAV4 quit, probably because they drove it recklessly and carelessly to its death. Nothing there, they had no choice but to head back south on foot to get to any semblance of civilization but the Nelson River blocked their way. The rivers and lands around Port Alberni are nothing compared to the force of a northern river pouring into the Hudson’s Bay, especially after the windy and rainy weather that coincided. They perished in the wrecked boat, attempting to cross it. JMO

 

[minorone]

if they really were anywhere in particular for several days, there would likely be >ahem< waste material. Do the RCMP have sniffer dogs?

Yes they have sniffer dogs. They left York Landing because the dogs did not pick up any scent of KM or BS. They have never publicly stated that the dogs picked up their scent in Gilliam, but it seems obvious their scent was picked up there & that is why LE has kept a presence there.

 

[Kubirai]

If RCMP state that the suspects are deceased, there is evidence. If RCMP say it is possible that the suspects are deceased, then vague means many things are possible - they know nothing.

Did RCMP mention that everyone should be vigilant about these dangerous fugitives in the past two days? If they didn't, perhaps they know something we don't, but we will soon.

 

[steelybird]

why touch the bodies at all?

I assumed they were face up. The road worker noticed a small wound in LF’s abdomen and blood bubbles around CD’s mouth.

 

[FactFinder3000]

As far as the burning of the truck and camper goes, I really think they felt they had no choice. Either they assumed somebody had seen it at the crime scene and it would be linked back to them, or there was evidence of the murders inside. I could even see where they might have somehow planned to report the truck and camper stolen.

 

[acutename]

I bet they did return to the vehicle to collect food or something that would help them survive in the area.

maybe not so smart to burn any food when leaving civilization for an indefinite period of time are there any good fishing spots around there?

 

[ladysamurai]

Wonder if the "several personal items directly linked to the suspects" and the statement "we don’t see any likelihood of those suspects posing a threat at this point" could be connected--as in the "personal items" possibly being body parts?

I am of the opinion they spotted an abandoned boat, burnt the incriminating RAV4 and took to the river in the boat in the desperate hope of escape. Boat hit the rapids, capsized, spilling them and any belongings out. Current and rocks did not treat them gently. "Personal items" drifted to shore, boat drifted to shore further down...and maybe more will drift to shore in the coming days.

 

[Zella]

Wonder if the "several personal items directly linked to the suspects" and the statement "we don’t see any likelihood of those suspects posing a threat at this point" could be connected--as in the "personal items" possibly being body parts?

I would be surprised if it were remains simply because I've never seen LE talk about personal items/effects and it be body parts. I am wondering if they're finding some evidence to suggest they are deceased, though. Beyond blood, I don't know what that would be short of a body.

Edited to add: I do agree with the speculation that they might not be elaborating until they contact next-to-kin if that is the case.

 

[MistyWaters]

RCMP had initially declared Mr. Schmegelsky and Mr. McLeod were missing after their pickup truck was found on fire outside Dease Lake. But on July 23, police said the pair were suspects in the deaths of Ms. Deese, Mr. Fowler and Mr. Dyck. The next day, RCMP charged Mr. Shmegelsky and Mr. McLeod with second-degree murder in Mr. Dyck’s death.

Have KM and BS been charged with second-degree murder in LF and CD deaths.

Was LD death a result of gun violence or some other type of violence. I remember reading in thread #1 that RCMP stated that LD death was that of natural causes but maybe caused by foul play but I might be in error on this point. TIA.

No the last the RCMP reported, the murder charges for L&C were still being finalized in preparation for the judge to sign off and complexity was involved. It’s very common that charges are not laid until a suspect is arrested. But given they fled to Manitoba, the 2nd degree murder charge of LC ensured an outstanding arrest warrant was in place so they’d be returned the BC.

But filing charges against suspects is not proof of guilt. If they cannot be located alive there will be no trial nor conviction.

 

[scrappinkat]

We know that the murders of Lucas and Chynna are connected to the murder of Dyck. That means that if an alternate suspect murdered Lucas and Chynna, the alternate suspect also murdered Dyck. We know that charges have been laid in the murder of Dyck and that they are pending in the murders of Lucas and Chynna.

But the thing is we do not know that. Why is it considered so impossible that another person/s is responsible for the deaths of Fowler and Deese?
There’s been kidnappings, shootings, murders, a drug ring with something like 19 people arrested, violent assaults in areas that surround Liard Lake Hot Springs. Dawson Creek, B.C. ranked 16 and Fort St. John, B.C. ranked 33 for most dangerous cities in Canada. (North Battleford, Sask., Thompson, Man. and Wetaskiwin, Alta. took the top three spots on Maclean’s list for all crime respectively out of 237 cities in Canada).
Grande Prairie, only 6 hours away, was listed 14th most dangerous cities in 2019, it was 12th last year. Grande Prairie had been listed as the country’s most dangerous city for 2016, based on 2015 statistics.

Grande Prairie ranked 14th for Canada’s Most Dangerous Places

 

[acutename]

I bet they did return to the vehicle to collect food or something that would help them survive in the area.

maybe not so smart to burn any food when leaving civilization for an indefinite period of time are there any good fishiis th

It seems to me that they obtained a paper atlas, perhaps from Prof. Dyck vehicle, and chose the shortest northern route to Gillam.

Based on Gina20 hunches, I am now more convinced that they know someone who worked in a local hydro project. There is also good chance they were aware of the 1983 BC murders and Sundance camp.

If those hunches prove true, they may have wanted to hide out in an abandoned camp, but was forced to go on the river.

who goes to the scene of a former unsolved murder and reenacts it?

 

[copkid]

I find this whole line of thinking really intriguing. I'd love to see this theory hashed out a little more. It would explain a few things. such as the burning of the vehicles, which doesn't make any sense unless they wanted to call attention to themselves. Or, if as you suggest, someone is framing them. If they are running and hiding, why torch the cars? Another poster has pointed out that they left to look for work rather abruptly. Were they meeting up with someone, someone who promised them work? Or, did they meet someone in Whitehorse who promised work elsewhere? Dease Lake? Did they go to Gillam to meet someone? But why would they drop off the radar since the murders and not call their family, and how could they not know about the murders or that they were suspects? And why would they leave the camper or allow it to be burned? There are some things that don't quite fit the frame-up theory, but many of the things they've done are inexplicable.

Intriguing theory for sure, and one I do not think has been suggested here until now. JMO

I would like to hear more from the original poster.

 

[SteveP]

I would be surprised if it were remains simply because I've never seen LE talk about personal items/effects and it be body parts. I am wondering if they're finding some evidence to suggest they are deceased, though. Beyond blood, I don't know what that would be short of a body.

Edited to add: I do agree with the speculation that they might not be elaborating until they contact next-to-kin if that is the case.

Shredded articles of clothing that can be tied to them that would suggest an attack by bears, perhaps? Bloody clothing?

 

[Kubirai]

I assumed they were face up. The road worker noticed a small wound in LF’s abdomen and blood bubbles around CD’s mouth.

Mr. Pierre commented on tv that he noticed both bodies were in very similar pose, heads pointing north and face pointing west.

 

[acutename]

So LE found "several items directly linked to KM and BS". What items besides ID and two shirts (possibly more clothing from other video) could LE directly tie to them?

And how easy would it be to get blueprints/detailed maps for that abandoned area near Sundance?

if they were in a location for any period of time, they would leave waste material. even buried, a dog would find it, IMO. Dogs live to track waste material.

 

[grannygates]

the discovery that the boat, or at least debris found near it, was connected to the suspects, i am rethinking whether the york landing sighting was truly actually them. the dump is on a peninsula, they may have had the boat ashore on the peninsula and simply ran to it and took off.

i looked up the dams along the nelson and they appear to allow for one to portage a boat along the side. manitoba hydro has some neat videos on youtube showing each of the rams on the nelson.

i’m also wondering whomever posted the map earlier on with the approx location of the rav and boat would please be able to repost! i’m clicking through so many pages and can’t seem to find it. i’m trying to gather whether they were upstream or downstream from the rav.

 

[scrappinkat]

I would be very susprised to learn that Lucas and Chynna were travelling with an illegal gun. It's one thing to take a van on a 3 week road trip with questionable vehicle registration, but an illegal gun is a whole different problem..

The job description at the ranch Lucas found employment at also listed “shooting predators” as a job duty. Perhaps Lucas was legally able to carry a non-restricted gun. If he was a legal PAL holder then it would have been legal for someone to loan him a non-restricted gun for his three week trip.

 

[Jen-Knee]

I think if they were being framed they would have been scared enough to call their families.

 

[otto]

No bodies so they may still be bivouacking?

"The RCMP have found several items on the shore of the Nelson River “directly linked” to two men wanted in three deaths in Northern B.C., but the discovery hasn’t led police any closer to finding the fugitives"​

Belongings of B.C. fugitives found on Manitoba shore; RCMP Superintendent says latest search coming to an end

 

[Seattle1]

8/6/19

The RCMP have found several items on the shore of the Nelson River “directly linked” to two men wanted in three deaths in Northern B.C., but the discovery hasn’t led police any closer to finding the fugitives.

RCMP Superintendent Sorab Rupa, district commander for Manitoba North, said Tuesday that police are coming toward an end on the latest search effort, triggered by the spotting of a wrecked rowboat below the Lower Limestone Rapids on the Nelson River on Friday.

Supt. Rupa would not disclose what items were found about nine kilometres from where a grey Toyota RAV4 that police believe fugitives Bryer Schmegelsky and Kam McLeod were driving was found burning in a ditch on July 22. Nor would he shed light on what those items indicate about the pair’s possible whereabouts.

[...]

“We’ve done every single thing we can,” Supt. Rupa said late Tuesday afternoon after meeting with the two leaders. “We have brought a significant amount of resources to bear in locating the two suspects and we have been unable to at this time, for a variety of reasons, some of which we’ll never actually ever know unless we actually make an arrest.”

That uncertainty will leave a pall of anxiety over the remote communities of Gillam and Fox Lake, which are surrounded by a vast wilderness of dense bush and bogs.

The manhunt for Mr. Schmegelsky, 18, and Mr. McLeod, 19, shifted to this Northern Manitoba region two weeks ago, after the torched Toyota was found near Fox Lake Cree Nation.

Friends since childhood, the pair from Port Alberni, B.C., had told their parents they were headed to Yukon and Northwest Territories in search of work. They left around July 13.

[...]

Since the discovery of the rowboat, a large team of officers have combed through the densely wooded area and shoreline on foot and ATVs. Police have used sniffer dogs and an RCMP helicopter equipped with an infrared camera. But the search did not lead them to the fugitives.

“Although there is a possibility that the suspects are deceased, we must continue to remain vigilant and investigate every tip and lead as till such time as we either locate a body or make an arrest,” Sgt. Manaigre added.

Supt. Rupa said the RCMP will maintain a footprint in the region, as it begins pulling out its specialized search resources. A five-member RCMP detachment is located in Gillam, but no police officer is based in Fox Lake Cree Nation, where about 500 people live.

“If we thought people were here, we would not be leaving,” he said. “The only time we would scale down is because at the end of the day, we are of the mindset and the belief that after everything we have done, we don’t see any likelihood of those suspects posing a threat at this point.”

Belongings of B.C. fugitives found on Manitoba shore; RCMP Superintendent says latest search coming to an end