Manitoba RCMP will begin a phased withdrawal of resources in the search for BC Murder suspects Kam MacLeod and Bryer Schmegelesky.

Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy says police are not ending the search, but says police have searched over 11,000 square kilometres in the last week.

She says over 500 homes were also searched in the Gillam and Fox Lake area.

“We searched rail lines, hydro corridors, lakes, rivers, vast areas of tundra and muskeg, dense forests and brush,” she said. “We conducted exhaustive searches on foot with dogs and with all terrain vehicles. We used boats of lakes and searched from the air with drones, helicopters and planes.”

MacLatchy says police will be ready to respond on a moments notice, if there is any new information.

“To be clear, we are not ending this search. A number of tactial resources and assets will remain positioned in the Gillam area and we’ll continue the efforts to locate the murder suspects.”

She adds she knows that the news isn’t what the victims’ families or the people of northern Manitoba want to hear.

“I want to thank the communities of Gillam, Fox Lake Cree Nation, and York Landing for their incredible support and the resiliency they’ve demonstrated,” MacLatchy said. “You have shown incredible strength and courage during the time of uncertainty. I also want to assure you that our officers will still have a presence in the area and that we’ll be there for you.”

Schmegelsky and McLeod are charged with second-degree murder in the death of UBC professor Leonard Dyck, and are considered suspects in the shooting of Australian Lucas Fowler and his American girlfriend Chynna Deese.