New twist in murders of Australian man and girlfriend on Canadian highway

Two teens initially thought to be missing are now suspects over the deaths of an Australian man and his American girlfriend.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed on Tuesday (local time) Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky are being hunted over the deaths of 23-year-old Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese, 24, who were found shot dead on a Canadian highway.

McLeod, 19, and Schmegelsky, 18, from Port Alberni, near Vancouver, are also suspects in the death of a yet-to-be identified middle-aged man found lying near where the teenager's Dodge pickup truck was set alight on Friday.

A massive manhunt is under way, with the teenagers spotted driving a grey 2011 Toyota RAV4 more than 2000km away in northern Saskatchewan, a province in central Canada.

Police now believe the pair may have travelled east since, driving through Gillam in neighbouring province Manitoba after a possible sighting.

The teenagers are considered so dangerous a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spokeswoman said a decision to call Tuesday's press conference and go public with their concerns was unprecedented.

"If you spot Bryer or Kam, consider them dangerous," RCMP's Sergeant Janelle Shoihet said.

"Do not approach, do not take action and call 911 immediately."

Deaths connected, police believe

McLeod and Schmegelsky were first loosely connected to the murder of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese on Friday when their Dodge was found burning on a highway and a man's body was found 2km away.

This carnage took place near Dease Lake, 470km away from the Alaska Highway location near Liard Hot Springs where Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were found shot dead in a ditch.

The distance between the two locations initially had the RCMP reluctant to link the bodies.

McLeod and Schmegelsky, who had been friends since elementary school, had worked to save for a trip north to find work at Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory.

They are now considered armed and dangerous.

"Given these latest developments, Kameron and Bryer are no longer considered missing," Sgt Shoihet said.

"The RCMP are now considering Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky as suspects in the Dease Lake suspicious death and the double homicide of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese."

The RCMP released new and recent security camera photos of the teens in northern Saskatchewan.

Mr Fowler, the son of a senior NSW police officer, and Ms Deese, from North Carolina, were stranded on the highway after their blue 1986 Chevrolet van broke down on the afternoon of July 14.

Mr Fowler and Ms Deese met two years ago backpacking in Croatia, fell in love and were on a road trip through Canada when they were murdered.

On Monday police released CCTV of the couple sharing an intimate hug at a petrol station two days before their bodies were found.

They also shared a composite of a bearded man they would like to speak to in connection to the couple’s death.

Schmegelsky is a ‘great kid’

Schmegelsky's family members have offered positive descriptions of the teenagers.

His grandmother, Carol Starkey, told the Times Colonist newspaper Schmegelsky "was a great kid".

His father, Alan Schmegelsky, said his son and McLeod were "best friends who did everything together".

"They even got jobs together at Walmart," Mr Schmegelsky said.

"They were just out on an adventure."

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