Canada - Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck, all murdered, Alaska Hwy, BC, Jul 2019 #19

[sandbar]

dbm

 

[NJSleuth91]

Yeah I think she was shot in the face or back of the head. That definitely falls under the category of "gruesome violence" and "closed casket."

Could be covering up deep scratches or bites on Bs arms is why he’s wearing the camo jacket in Meadow Lake, while K is only wearing a shirt.

SBM

The guy who helped them out of the mud said Bryer was wearing a t-shirt with no jacket at that time, IIRC, and didn't say anything about defensive wounds.

I get the feeling that Kam was pulling the strings more than the other way around. Bryer was keen, he reads as almost overly keen and serious. Kam seemed more cool and calm, and not nearly as overt which makes me think he was more of the leader and Bryer his eager accomplice. All moo, and of course I think that they were equally responsible.

Yeah I get the sense that if there was a leader, it was Kam. There's a good amount of evidence pointing to that. Historically, he had more power in the relationship -- social skills, money, stable home life, a vehicle. He was the one with a driver's license so Bryer literally could not go anywhere without him. He was driving every time they were seen. He was walking ahead in the store and looked more focused and determined. The guy who helped them out of the mud also said that Kam gave his real name and shook hands first, and then Bryer followed his lead. The officers who stopped them said Kam did most of the talking. Plus generally in killer duos, the leader is more charismatic and outwardly normal, and the follower is the more outwardly dysfunctional one.

Also, now that we know they recorded multiple videos, it's possible they were more self-aware than we realize. I'm wondering if their outfits were meant to send a message. Maybe Kam's outfit was normal because he was the outwardly normal one that nobody would have suspected. Maybe Bryer was wearing the military outfit not just because he liked it and was in survivalist mode, but also to signify that he was Kam's "soldier." Kam was socially savvy enough to know what it looked like.

 

[MsBetsy]

This quote is from the book AS apparently wrote in 12 days in October while he was drunk, which he later turned over to the media at the same time the manhunt for his son was ongoing. I don’t get why he released it but this passage eludes to AS regretting turning himself in because the police did him no favours (his version).

It’s eerily sort of on topic of Bs choice to flee and die by suicide.

Father of teen Canadian murder fugitive tries to hijack media frenzy to publicize his new book | Daily Mail Online
“The 53-year-old construction worker wrote that he turned himself in to police over the harassment charge, rather than prompting a 'multi-million dollar, province-wide search', but complained that RCMP wrote a report for the judge in his case casting him as a 'homicidal, suicidal schizophrenic maniac'.

'This proceeding contained three reports: The RCMP Report; the homicidal, suicidal schizophrenic maniac off his meds and going to murder. The Forensic Psychiatric Assessment Report; the delusional, untreatable and needs medication for the rest of his life. And the Probation Services Report; hard worker, never missed an appointment, always courteous, never does drugs, no apparent alcohol problem,' he wrote. ...”

Very Interesting.

 

[KR72]

From the Daily Mail article.

Schmegelsky Sr revealed that after his criminal conviction, his fortnightly visits to see his son were supervised by a social worker, and claimed that his psychologist diagnosed him as ‘delusional’ and threatened to have him committed to a mental institution in 2011.

I thought AS wasn't allowed to see Bryer at all?

Father of teen Canadian murder fugitive tries to hijack media frenzy to publicize his new book | Daily Mail Online

 

[Gina20]

I think AS used the media to get his own way against his ex-wife, rather than against RCMP.

I really don't think RCMP get involved in social welfare cases or try to mediate family disputes, IMO RCMP protocol would be to show the video to next of kin, and allow the primary next of kin ie BS's mother, to decide who would also be in the room to view it, such as BS's grandmother. IMO BS's mother didn't invite AS to view it, and normally that would be the final word as far as RCMP are concerned. They don't want to go around making separate arrangements for all the members of a broken family, they just want one point of contact and let the family sort it out.

But by going to the media/threatening with a lawsuit, RCMP had to make a viewing just for him.

Whatever their reasons, this is 2019, not 1873. Families are complicated. You can't deny someone their legal rights because they're divorced. Nope. I bet a lot of RCMP members come from modern families, too.

 

[Jan424]

DBM

 

[Gina20]

Blood relative doesn't always mean next of kin. Since BS had a job at Walmart, he likely designated his mother as his next of kin.

If he's like most people his age, he probably didn't list one. Emergency contact is the current term. Likely those two had no benefits, but even a beneficiary designation doesn't mean next of kin.

 

[MsBetsy]

It's interesting how his son ended up being a homicidal, suicidal maniac who murdered. One has to wonder if schizophrenia wasn't involved. It is thought to be somewhat hereditary. And the age of onset tends to be in the teens.

It can be hereditary, and although people who have this disorder are rarely violent, a stressful life event can trigger a psychotic episode. Imo

 

[Esprite]

From the Daily Mail article.



I thought AS wasn't allowed to see Bryer at all?

Father of teen Canadian murder fugitive tries to hijack media frenzy to publicize his new book | Daily Mail Online

The decision to allow AS visitation rights would be made through Family Court. The process would begin with a psychological assessment of AS. The results of that assessment must have indicated that it was in Bryer's best interest for a court-appointed social worker to arrange the visits, and to also be present during the visits.

 

[Jan424]

Yeah I think she was shot in the face or back of the head.
The guy who helped them out of the mud said Bryer was wearing a t-shirt with no jacket at that time, IIRC, and didn't say anything about defensive wounds.
.

SBM
She could have been shot in the face or back of the head. But just because the guy who helped them didn’t mention defensive wounds doesn't mean they weren’t there or maybe not significant. It’s also possible Chynna tried to defend herself after seeing Lucas shot but was overpowered quickly. If so I can see them wanting to “punish” her even more. Of course, JMO... speculating here along with everyone else since facts are so skimpy.

 

[CanadianSleuther]

Father of teen Canadian murder fugitive tries to hijack media frenzy to publicize his new book | Daily Mail Online
“The 53-year-old construction worker wrote that he turned himself in to police over the harassment charge, rather than prompting a 'multi-million dollar, province-wide search', but complained that RCMP wrote a report for the judge in his case casting him as a 'homicidal, suicidal schizophrenic maniac'.

Yeah I get the sense that if there was a leader, it was Kam. There's a good amount of evidence pointing to that. Historically, he had more power in the relationship -- social skills, money, stable home life, a vehicle. He was the one with a driver's license so Bryer literally could not go anywhere without him. He was driving every time they were seen. He was walking ahead in the store and looked more focused and determined. The guy who helped them out of the mud also said that Kam gave his real name and shook hands first, and then Bryer followed his lead. The officers who stopped them said Kam did most of the talking. Plus generally in killer duos, the leader is more charismatic and outwardly normal, and the follower is the more outwardly dysfunctional one..

I think it could really go either way. It appears that Bryer has some serious mental health issues. The media had painted him as being crazy, and his dad didn't help matters. So it could explain if they were proven to be innocent or not to be as involved as the media makes them out to be, why they'd run. Bryer could have said he rather die than be arrested. Alan likely projected on Bryer, and Bryer was likely traumatized and feared if he gave himself up, they wouldn't believe him or would make him out to be crazy. Kam could have been in a tough place, the more emotionally sound of the too and didn't want to abandon Bryer.

 

[NJSleuth91]

I think it could really go either way. It appears that Bryer has some serious mental health issues. The media had painted him as being crazy, and his dad didn't help matters. So it could explain if they were proven to be innocent or not to be as involved as the media makes them out to be, why they'd run. Bryer could have said he rather die than be arrested. Alan likely projected on Bryer, and Bryer was likely traumatized and feared if he gave himself up, they wouldn't believe him or would make him out to be crazy. Kam could have been in a tough place, the more emotionally sound of the too and didn't want to abandon Bryer.

His dad wasn't interviewed until after they were in the woods and the media reports about his weird behavior didn't come out until after that, either.

 

[srper2]

I pleased to read AS was able to see the video. If the video truly withheld due to ongoing investigation, then why allow mother access?

And who defined "next of kin" here -- AS is the father, blood relative!

If about the custodial parent, BS was no longer a minor. MOO

Father of Bryer Schmegelsky seeks access to final video taken before murder suspect’s suicide

August 25, 2019

The video is about what Bryer Schmegelsky wanted to be done with his body after he died, according to an email exchange between the RCMP and Leamon obtained by The Canadian Press.

In the email, an RCMP officer writes that information about Bryer’s wishes was passed on to his mother, who is next of kin.

“At this time we will not be providing access to the video for Alan,” the officer wrote in the email. The message doesn’t say why, but Leamon said the RCMP told her it’s because the investigation is ongoing.

Considering numerous reports have stated that BS's mother and other family members were shown the 30 secs of video, but they refused to show it to his father. So the "next of kin" reason was not really true.

 

[CanadianSleuther]

His dad wasn't interviewed until after they were in the woods and the media reports about his weird behavior didn't come out until after that, either.

Good Point!!! But still possible that he had projected his feeling son his son in the past. Not to mention if he has mental health issues his mother could have also made him feel like he was inadequate or crazy. So many possibilities.

 

[Satchie]

Whatever their reasons, this is 2019, not 1873. Families are complicated. You can't deny someone their legal rights because they're divorced. Nope. I bet a lot of RCMP members come from modern families, too.

Only one person can be in charge of funeral arrangements, the funeral company isn't going to make separate arrangements with each ex-spouse, doing a burial for one and then digging up the body to cremate it for the other. There can be only one executor, the bank isn't going to consult with each parent separately about what to do with any cash in the account. Revenue Canada isn't going to allow both parents to submit final tax forms, etc, etc. The mother was the one designated to do these things.

 

[srper2]

I get the feeling that Kam was pulling the strings more than the other way around. Bryer was keen, he reads as almost overly keen and serious. Kam seemed more cool and calm, and not nearly as overt which makes me think he was more of the leader and Bryer his eager accomplice. All moo, and of course I think that they were equally responsible.

I felt that in the video of the two in the store, Bryer appeared anxious and jumpy, buttoning his shirt etc, but also appeared to be following the lead of a far more cautious and sombre/serious Kam. It is hard to even guess from such a short clip, though.
Chester and Spike:

(Sorry, couldn't resist adding this link!)

Ir has been reported that BS spent a lot of time at KM's home as well, so I imagine he was used to KM making more decisions about what and when they did things since they happened at KM's house more often than at BS's house.

 

[Satchie]

The video is about what Bryer Schmegelsky wanted to be done with his body after he died, according to an email exchange between the RCMP and Leamon obtained by The Canadian Press

It's very interesting that they believed, or even hoped, their bodies would be found. And yet that was very difficult and most searchers would have given up looking for them.

 

[Esprite]

To their credit, Bryer's mother and grandmother have remained relatively silent during the entire timeline of events. John McNab, Bryer's great-uncle, who acted as family spokesman in an interview, also said nothing whatsoever about any family acrimony. So, all we have to go by is AS's version of events, which seems to focus nearly entirely on himself. Perhaps we should take that with a grain of salt, and he should stop his histrionic rantings that show absolutely no respect for anyone involved in this sad situation.

 

[NJSleuth91]

It's very interesting that they believed, or even hoped, their bodies would be found. And yet that was very difficult and most searchers would have given up looking for them.

I still wonder if they threw the undisclosed items that the searchers found into the bushes near the river as a marker for the searchers to find them. I wasn't sure from the description of the terrain, but it sounded to me from what they said, that possibly the items were found in the river at the bottom of a cliff face, and Kam and Bryer's bodies were at the top.

I also assume they must have had some sort of waterproof container to put the phone in, like a Ziploc bag. That's why I don't think they filmed their actual suicides, because if it rained the phone would be destroyed.

 

[NJSleuth91]

John McNab, Bryer's great-uncle, who acted as family spokesman in an interview, also said nothing whatsoever about any family acrimony

SBM

Why would he? It's not in his family's best interest to open up that can of worms to the media. Bryer's dad doesn't have enough of a filter to know that being open to the media will just make him be vilified.

There is significant evidence of family acrimony outside of Bryer's dad's interviews. Bryer's neighbor (the mother of one of his former friends) said that he had a "s****y life" when she knew him from ages 11-13 (after his dad was out of the picture), that he was at her house all the time because that was where he could have fun (she also emphasized how her house always had lots of food...no comment) and that she still felt bad for him because of what he had to grow up with. Plus the fact that he moved in with his grandmother due to not getting along with his mom, but his grandmother and great-uncle both described him as well-behaved and a "great kid." They're not going to open themselves up to questions about all that. That's probably why they chose a non-immediate relative as their spokesperson, so if any questions like that are raised, they can be like "I don't know anything about that." JMO.

Overall it seems like a good strategy. It's a balance between people asking "Why aren't they saying anything? What do they have to hide?" like they are with the McLeods, and oversharing like Bryer's dad is doing.