Twist in manhunt for teens suspected of murdering Aussie and his girlfriend
A second burnt-car has been found in the manhunt for two Canadian teenagers who are suspects in the murder of Sydney man Lucas Fowler, his girlfriend and a third unidentified man.
On Tuesday morning (local time) the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, had been spotted driving a grey 2011 Toyota RAV4 in the central Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
Hours later the RCMP issued an alert to residents in the neighbouring province of Manitoba saying that they had “reasons to believe they (the suspects) were recently in the Gillam area” of that region.
A burnt-out vehicle was subsequently found near the reserve of Bird, not far from Gillam, according to CBC News.
The find prompted the Chief of the Fox Lake Cree Nation, Walter Spence, to issue a statement.
"We cannot confirm this was directly connected to the individuals wanted by RCMP,” Chief Spence said.
“I have spoken with the RCMP. An all night patrol for the community has been prepared as a caution”.
The two teenagers are suspected of shooting dead Mr Fowler, his American girlfriend Chynna Deese, and also a middle-aged man whose body was found near the suspects’ burnt-out truck near Dease Lake on Friday.
“If you spot them - take no actions – do not approach – call 911 or your local police immediately,” the RCMP has warned.
The teenage duo is considered so dangerous the RCMP 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 Sergeant Janelle Shoihet told reporters.
"Do not approach, do not take action and call 911 immediately."
Teens’ road trip quickly turns to murder manhunt
McLeod and Schmegelsky set off from Port Alberni for Whitehorse in the search for work. Arriving sometime before July 14 after leaving on July 12, the teens travelled over 2000km to reach their destination in the neighbouring province of Yukon.
Yet the pair were disappointed with the town and left, family members told the Vancouver Sun.
On July 19, the pair’s burnt-out Dodge camper was discovered in Dease Lake. The body of the middle-aged man was discovered roughly two kilometres from the vehicle.
Just four days earlier, the bodies of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were found on the roadside of the Alaska Highway, 450km east of Dease Lake.
A shop owner in Jade City, roughly 350km east of where Mr Fowler and Ms Deese’s bodies were found, said she spotted the teens in her store on CCTV a day before their vehicle was found.
As police ramped up their hunt for the teens, and with the young men possibly aware they had quickly gone from missing to lead suspects in three murders, they fled east across the country.
On Monday, they were reportedly seen in northern Saskatchewan, more than 2000km away. Police refused to give details on the exact sighting in the knowledge they were on the move and not wanting to jeopardise their hunt.
The teens are known best friends and worked night shifts at their local Walmart together to raise money to go on their working adventure.
The teenagers are also said to enjoy playing video games that simulated war and involved hunting and camouflage.
With AAP
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