Face of Nation : The RCMP say they believe the two young men who are suspects in the homicides of a tourist couple in British Columbia, and who have been charged in a third, are still hiding in the rugged wilderness of northern Manitoba. Police said Thursday there have been two confirmed sightings near Gillam, about 750 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, of Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18.
In addition, the RCMP said there have been no reports of stolen vehicles in the area, leading them to believe McLeod and Schmegelsky are holed up in the dense, swampy terrain. The confirmed sightings occurred prior to the discovery of their burnt-out vehicle on Monday night, but RCMP Cpl. Julie Courchaine would offer no further details.
Police have enlisted help from across Western Canada to assist in the massive search around Gillam and nearby Fox Lake Cree Nation. They have received around 80 tips from the public in the last 48 hours, Courchaine said.
The normally secluded region has seen an influx of heavily armed police officers, wearing camouflage and inspecting every vehicle that goes in or out. The officers travel in packs, and were seen Thursday scouring the bush and abandoned buildings, concentrating around Fox Lake Cree Nation. “We are taking all steps to be as thorough as we can, which is why we have so many resources,” she said. “We’re doing a lot of searches in and around that area.”
McLeod and Schmegelsky are suspects in the double homicide of Australian Lucas Fowler, 23, and American Chynna Deese, 24, who were discovered shot to death along the side of the Alaska Highway, south of Liard Hot Springs, B.C., on July 15.
They are also charged with second-degree murder in the death of Leonard Dyck, a sessional instructor at the University of British Columbia. Four days after Fowler and Deese’s bodies were found, McLeod and Schmegelsky’s burnt-out truck was discovered more than 470 kilometres away, near the community of Dease Lake, B.C.
Manitoba RCMP say their emergency response, crisis negotiation and air services teams, and a canine unit, are deployed to the region, along with RCMP North District resources. The RCMP major crime unit is involved, including other police departments from Western Canada and the Ontario Provincial Police.
