Port Alberni teens Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to the man found dead in northern B.C., police say. The two young men remain at large.
The victim, who was identified as Leonard Dyck of Vancouver late Wednesday, was found on at a pullout on Highway 37, just south of where McLeod and Schmegelsky’s red and grey truck was found ablaze on Friday.
#BREAKING: Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky have been charged with second degree murder in connection to the man found at a highway pullout near Dease Lake on Friday. That man is now being identified as Leonard Dyck from Vancouver. More to come @BlackPressMedia pic.twitter.com/ubPfcHqXIv
— Ashley Wadhwani (@ashwadhwani) July 25, 2019
The teens remain suspects in the double homicide of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese, whose bodies were discovered on July 15 along the Alaska Highway, south of Liard Hot Springs.
A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for McLeod, 19, and Schmegelsky, 18 in Dyck’s death. They were last seen in Gillam, Man., on Monday night, where their burned Rav 4 was found, according to police.
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RCMP said they have released Dyck’s name in hopes of furthering the investigation into all three deaths, and are urging anyone who may have spoken to him during his travels in northern B.C. to contact the major crimes tipline at 1-877-543-4822 or 778-290-5291.
In a statement released by Mounties, Dyck’s family asked for privacy and called his death a tragedy.
“We are truly heart broken by the sudden and tragic loss of Len,” the statement reads. “He was a loving husband and father. His death has created unthinkable grief and we are struggling to understand what has happened.”
READ MORE: Father of teen suspect in B.C. deaths: ‘I’m sitting at home worrying about my son’
In northern Manitoba, RCMP set up checkpoints along the major roads in the area of Gillam, while officers scour the rural area where the pair’s last used vehicle was found.
The young men are considered to be armed and dangerous. They may be using a vehicle, on foot or even travelling separately, police said. Investigators believe they could have changed their appearances, and are urging the public to use caution if they spot them and to call 911.
@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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