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2019 Northern British Columbia murders

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2019 Northern British Columbia homicides
LocationNorthern British Columbia, Canada
DateJuly 14, 2019 (2019-07-14) –
August 7, 2019 (2019-08-07)
Attack type
Shooting, spree killing
WeaponsSKS[1]
Deaths5 (including both perpetrators)
VictimsLucas Fowler
Chynna Deese
Leonard Dyck
PerpetratorsKam McLeod
Bryer Schmegelsky

The 2019 Northern British Columbia homicides were a spree killing that took place on the Alaska Highway and Stewart–Cassiar Highway in British Columbia, Canada, between July 14–19, 2019. Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky are believed to have killed Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese, before killing Leonard Dyck within a six-day time frame.[2]

By July 23, 2019, McLeod and Schmegelsky allegedly traversed 3,200 km (2,000 mi) stretching across four Canadian provinces in ten days.[3] A nationwide manhunt for the suspects was initiated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).[4] Between July 23 and August 7, McLeod and Schmegelsky used firearms to commit suicide near the Nelson River, northeast of Gillam, Manitoba.[5][6]

Details

Shootings

In the summer of 2019, Australian national Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend, American national Chynna Deese, were taking a three-week trip around Canada.[7] On July 14, their 1986 Chevrolet van broke down along the Alaska Highway, 20 km (12 mi) south of Liard Hot Springs in British Columbia.[8] At approximately 3:20 PM PST, Curtis Broughton, a mechanic, along with his wife Sandra, stopped to check on the couple.[9] Broughton explained, "They seemed like they kind of had it under control. It was mechanical issues with the van. They were having a picnic waiting for the van to unflood, I guess, and try to start it again".[10] Broughton was assured that the couple knew what they were doing, and saw them "happy" and "smiling" before leaving them shortly after.[11] At approximately 7:00 AM PST on July 15, the bodies of Fowler and Deese were discovered by Trevor Pierre, a highway worker.[12]

Both victims were found in a ditch close to their van, with their bodies showing visible gunshot wounds and lying 5 m (16 ft) apart from one another.[12] Both were lying north, with their heads facing west.[13] The van's back doors were left open with their windows smashed, according to Pierre.[13] On July 19, a burnt-out pickup truck was discovered south of the Stikine River Bridge on Highway 37.[14] The body of Vancouver resident Leonard Dyck was found 2 km (1.2 mi) south of the vehicle fire, with "similar circumstances" as Fowler and Deese (whose bodies were found 470 km (290 mi) away).[15]

Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky were initially reported as missing persons, as it was revealed that they were operating the pickup truck before it was destroyed.[16] On July 22, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) believed there was a possible link between the missing persons and murder victims in British Columbia.[17]

Manhunt

On July 23, a burning Toyota RAV4 was found near Fox Lake Cree Nation, north of Gillam, Manitoba, believed to be driven by the missing pair.[18] Following this discovery, the RCMP sought second-degree murder charges against McLeod and Schmegelsky in relation to the British Columbia killings.[19] After the case received nationwide attention, a resident of Cold Lake, Alberta, reported helping two younger males who had their RAV4 stuck on July 21.[20] Later that same day, the pair was captured by video surveillance at a store in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, the footage of which was turned in to the police days later.[21]

Eyewitnesses recalled spotting McLeod and Schmegelsky twice in the Gillam area on July 22.[22] On the same day, the pair were stopped for a routine alcohol check by Tataskweyak Cree Nation band constables in Split Lake, Manitoba.[23] They were eventually released, marking the interaction with band constables as the last confirmed sighting of the suspects as of July 22.[24]

By July 24, the RCMP deployed the Emergency Response Team, a crisis negotiation team, air services and canine units to Gillam and its surrounding area.[25] A checkpoint was set up at the intersection of Provincial Roads 280 and 290, with heavily armed officers canvassing the area.[26] The RCMP acknowledged the 'inhospitable' environment with dense forests, swampy terrain, and wild animals.[27] After almost a week of unsuccessful search attempts in Gillam, the RCMP received a new tip on July 28:[28] Travis Bighetty and Justin Coelho, of the Indigenous Bear Clan Patrol, had spotted two people with "matching descriptions" of the fugitives at the York Landing community landfill, 200 kilometres southwest.[29]

By July 29, the RCMP reported that they were unable to locate the suspects, but reassuring the public of their continued presence in the Gillam and York Landing communities.[30] On July 30, Northeast Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a report of two suspicious men with matching descriptions of McLeod and Schmegelsky near Iron Bridge, east of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.[31] On July 31 at 10:30 AM, OPP James Bay Detachment was notified that the fugitives might have been travelling eastbound in a white vehicle on Highway 11 near Kapuskasing,[32] carrying a firearm.[citation needed] Officers could not locate the subjects in either incident.[33] On the same day, nine days after the manhunt began, Manitoba RCMP announced that despite inspecting over 11,000 square kilometres and searching more than 500 homes in Gillam, York Landing and their surroundings it had been unable to locate the suspects and so was "scaling back" its search operation.[34] By August 1, more unconfirmed locations of the suspects had been reported to the OPP including Sudbury, West Nipissing, North Bay and Parry Sound.

A breakthrough came on August 2 when Gillam-based tour guide Clint Sawchuk reported to the RCMP that he saw a blue sleeping bag at the edge of the Nelson River, near the entrance to Hudson Bay.[35] On August 6, the RCMP announced it found several items believed to belong to the suspects on the shore of the river.[36] A fresh search of the river by the RCMP on August 3 found a damaged rowboat below the Lower Limestone Rapids, about 65 km north-east of Gillam. Near the rowboat were some other items which the RCMP linked to the suspects. This location was 9 km (5.6 mi) north-east of where the burnt RAV4 had been found on July 23. An underwater search by the RCMP close to where the rowboat was found did not find anything further.[37]

On August 7, RCMP in northern Manitoba reported that they believed they found the bodies of the fugitives in a thick bush close to the Nelson River, about 1 km (0.62 mi) west of where the damaged rowboat was found.[38][39] By August 12, an autopsy report from Winnipeg confirmed that the two bodies found belonged to the wanted suspects and that they died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds.[40] The pair recorded a series of videos prior to committing suicide, in which they confessed to the murders. They gave no motive and expressed no remorse for the killings.[41]

Response

Canadian Armed Forces

On July 26, a formal request from RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki was approved by Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale and Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan for assistance in locating the perpetrators.[42] By July 27, an RCAF 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron CC-130H Hercules aircraft was deployed from Winnipeg for aerial reconnaissance to the Gillam area, while following RCMP requests.[43][44] The aircraft utilized its thermal imaging equipment in the search, with negative results.[45]

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

On July 27, 2019, an Indigenous-led neighbourhood watch group arrived in Gillam at the request of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.[46] They offered volunteer support and services to the residents of the town, amid the high-risk manhunt in the area.[47]

Social media

The manhunt sparked the creation of Facebook groups theorizing the suspects' next moves. It also caused online trolls to emerge, tease the police and encourage the suspects in evading search efforts; one of those went by the alias Thomasabrahamutoyo and alleged that the suspects were his friends and taunted that they are "smarter than you think".[48]

Misconception

Highway of Tears

The initial reports of the murders in northern British Columbia prompted confusion among some foreign media outlets.[49] The locations of the murders were incorrectly identified as taking place on or near the infamous Highway of Tears.[50] The stretch of highway is known for its decades-long unsolved murders and disappearances of indigenous women.

See also

References

  1. ^ Carrigg, David (December 20, 2019). "Timeline: Triple murders committed in B.C. last summer by teen killers Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky". Vancouver Sun.
  2. ^ Proctor, Jason (July 27, 2019). "Transfixed by tragedy: mystery of alleged 'team killers' captures world's attention". CBC News.
  3. ^ Clench, Sam; Palin, Megan (July 28, 2019). "Canada highway murders: Military support called in to help search". NewsComAu. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  4. ^ Denton, Jack; Bailey, Ian (July 25, 2019). "Manhunt for two B.C. murder suspects focuses on Manitoba wilderness". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  5. ^ Kotyk, Alyse; Molko, David (August 12, 2019). "McLeod, Schmegelsky died by suicide, autopsy results suggest: RCMP". CTV News Vancouver. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  6. ^ McKeen, Alex; Nuttall, Jeremy (August 12, 2019). "Manhunt suspects died of 'suicide by gunfire,' RCMP say". The Star. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  7. ^ "American Woman and Australian Boyfriend Killed While Road-Tripping in Canada". Inside Edition. July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  8. ^ Peacock, Emelie (July 23, 2019). "Couple died by 'gun violence' south of Liard Hot Springs". Cabin Radio. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  9. ^ Desai, Devika (July 22, 2019). "Three dead, two missing off northern B.C. highway leaves local residents unsettled". National Post. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  10. ^ Boynton, Sean (July 21, 2019). "Tourist couple found dead off B.C. highway were 'happy' and 'confident,' bystanders say". Global News. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "'They were still happy': Couple reveals murdered Australian's final moments". 7NEWS.com.au. July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "UPDATE: Suspects identified in three northern B.C. deaths spotted in Manitoba". KamloopsMatters.com. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  13. ^ a b Little, Simon (July 22, 2019). "'Still troubled by it': Witness recounts securing the scene of northern B.C. double murder". Global News. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  14. ^ "Dease Lake murder victim identified as Vancouver's Leonard Dyck; teens charged with 2nd-degree". bc.ctvnews.ca. July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "Charges laid, victim identified in Dease Lake homicide". CHEK. July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  16. ^ Azpiri, Jon (July 24, 2019). "Who are Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky? What we know about the suspects in northern B.C. deaths". Global News. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  17. ^ Schmunk, Rhianna (July 23, 2019). "2 B.C. men considered missing now suspects in homicide of young couple". CBC News. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  18. ^ "Car found burned in Gillam area used by suspects in B.C. deaths: RCMP". CTV News Winnipeg. July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  19. ^ Boynton, Sean (July 24, 2019). "Northern B.C. murder suspects charged with 2nd-degree murder of Leonard Dyck in Dease Lake case". Global News. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  20. ^ Romero, Diego (July 26, 2019). "B.C. murder suspects spotted in Cold Lake, Alta., last Sunday". CTV News Edmonton. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "Homicide suspects seen in Meadow Lake, Sask. store in newly released video". CBC News. July 26, 2019.
  22. ^ "B.C. homicide suspects were spotted twice in Gillam before their burning vehicle was found". Thompson Citizen. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  23. ^ D'Amore, Rachael (July 29, 2019). "B.C. murder suspects stopped, released by band constables before manhunt: councillor". Global News. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  24. ^ Lamoureux, Mack; Visser, Josh (July 29, 2019). "Small Manitoba Town On Lockdown as Police Sweep Area for BC Murder Suspects". Vice. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  25. ^ Froese, Ian (July 25, 2019). "Fugitives likely still in Gillam, Man., area, RCMP says". CBC News.
  26. ^ Bernhardt, Glowacki; Darren, Laura (July 24, 2019). "Manhunt underway after burnt vehicle found in northern Manitoba used by suspects in B.C. homicides: RCMP". CBC News.
  27. ^ Lamoureux, Mack; Visser, Josh; Mead, Derek (July 26, 2019). "BC Murder Suspects Are Likely Hiding in Northern Manitoba Woods, Police Say". Vice. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  28. ^ Drinkwater, Rob; Geraldine, Kelly (July 28, 2019). "Manhunt suspects could be in York Landing, Man.: police". CTV News. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  29. ^ "RCMP searching York Landing, Man., for B.C. fugitives". CBC News. July 28, 2019.
  30. ^ Shah, Maryam (July 29, 2019). "Distance from Gillam to York Landing full of 'challenging terrain,' experts say". Global News. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  31. ^ Dillman, Martha (July 31, 2019). "Report of murder suspect sightings in northeastern Ontario unconfirmed, OPP say". CBC News.
  32. ^ Dillman, Martha (July 31, 2019). "Report of murder suspect sightings in northeastern Ontario unconfirmed, OPP say". CBC. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  33. ^ Pickard, Arron (July 31, 2019). "Update: OPP confirms a caller believed B.C. murder suspects drove through Kapuskasing". Sudbury.com. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  34. ^ D'Amore, Rachael (July 31, 2019). "Manhunt for B.C. murder suspects shrinking but not ending". Global News. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  35. ^ D’Aliesio, Renata (August 7, 2019). "How a river guide's sharp eye, and a sleeping bag, triggered a search that ended the RCMP manhunt". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  36. ^ Grabish, Austin (August 6, 2019). "RCMP find items linked to B.C. homicide suspects on northern Manitoba shoreline". CBC News.
  37. ^ "RCMP divers conduct underwater search in Nelson River after damaged rowboat found". Thompson Citizen. August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  38. ^ Bailey, Ian; Hager, Mike (August 7, 2020). "One year after the Manitoba manhunt: The grief and unanswered questions left behind". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  39. ^ D’Aliesio, Renata; Bailey, Ian; Woo, Andrea (August 7, 2019). "Manhunt ends as RCMP discover two bodies believed to be B.C. homicide suspects". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  40. ^ Cousins, Ben (August 12, 2019). "Autopsy results say B.C. murder suspects died by suicide: RCMP". CTV News. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  41. ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (September 30, 2019). "Canadian Teens' Murder Confession Unveiled After Their Suicides". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  42. ^ "Massive manhunt in Canadian wilderness for teen murder suspects". gulfnews.com. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  43. ^ Dunham, Jackie (July 27, 2019). "Military to provide aircraft support to RCMP search for B.C. homicide suspects". CTV News. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  44. ^ Breen, Kerri; Vomiero, Jessica; Ferreras, Jesse (July 28, 2019). "Manhunt for B.C. murder suspects continues in northern Manitoba". Global News. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  45. ^ Hatherly, Dana (July 28, 2019). "Police search Northern Manitoba homes, abandoned buildings in pursuit of 2 fugitives". CBC News.
  46. ^ Charron, Jeremie (July 27, 2019). "Bear Clan offers support, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs rolls out safety strategy as search continues for B.C. homicide suspects". CTV News Winnipeg. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  47. ^ Hatherly, Dana (July 27, 2019). "Winnipeg's Bear Clan Patrol to act as 'ambassadors' as Mounties hunt fugitives". CBC News.
  48. ^ Hristova, Bobby (August 2, 2019). "'It's been blown out of proportion': Online speculation causing havoc in manhunt for B.C. fugitives". Timmins Daily Press. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  49. ^ Connolly, Amanda (July 23, 2019). "Here's what some international media have wrong about northern B.C. double murder". Global News. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  50. ^ Connolly, Amanda (July 22, 2019). "Here's what we know about the 3 dead in northern B.C. and the suspects". Global News. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
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