The vehicle stolen by two teenagers suspected in three northern B.C. deaths has been found torched in northern Manitoba, RCMP confirmed Wednesday.
The grey 2011 Toyota Rav 4 the pair had been driving was found in the Gillam area.
NEW: A SUV linked to Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky was found torched in Manitoba, @rcmpmb have confirmed. @BlackPressMedia
— Kat Slepian (@katslepian) July 24, 2019
STORY: https://t.co/U2HXLRrk5T pic.twitter.com/wpgseLtE0z
Residents of the remote town are locking their doors earlier than usual after word of the police manhunt in the area for 19-year-old Kam McLeod and 18-year-old Bryer Schmegelsky.
The teens are suspects in the deaths of Lucas Fowler, 23, and Chynna Deese, 24, who were found dead on July 15 near Liard Hot Springs. They’d been exploring the area in their van. Fowler, originally from Australia, had been travelling the world when he reportedly met Deese in Croatia in 2017.
Later that week, on July 19, a burned truck belonging to McLeod and Schmegelsky was found south of Dease Lake. The body of an unidentified man was found two kilometres away, in a highway pullout.
McLeod and Schmegelsky, who are from Port Alberni, were said to have been travelling to Whitehorse or Alberta to look for work at the time.
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They have since been spotted in northern Saskatchewan and then near Gillam.
Residents are used to seeing strangers come and go from projects at Manitoba Hydro, said Deputy Mayor John McDonald, but they’re paying closer attention since the release of photos of the suspects and word Tuesday that both may be in the area.
McDonald said extra officers have been brought in to search an area about 70 kilometres northwest of the town near Fox Lake Cree Nation, where Chief Walter Spence has said police would be patrolling all night.
Gillam is about 11 hours north of Winnipeg. There is only one major road in and out of the area.
McDonald said if McLeod and Schmegelsky are there, they are in country known for its thick bush, swamps and pesky insects, and where it’s easy to get lost.
“If they are wandering around in the bush, they couldn’t have picked a worse time because the sandflies came out three days ago and they’re just voracious,” he said Wednesday.
The Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc., which represent First Nations in northern Manitoba, is also warning community members to be careful.
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Manitoba RCMP said they were working with B.C. Mounties.
“We have received numerous tips and information … and are continuing to ask for the public’s assistance,” said Cpl. Julie Courchaine.
“If you see something suspicious, call police. We are also reminding everyone that these suspects should not be approached if seen and to call 911 or your local police immediately.”
An informational checkstop has been set up on the road leading into Gillam, RCMP said.
Speaking with reporters in Saskatoon, federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said police are doing everything they can to track down the suspects.
“Obviously when violent incidents occur, we take it very, very seriously and we take all the necessary steps with the police and otherwise, to make sure that people can have confidence about their safety,” Goodale said.
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