Two men from Port Alberni previously considered missing, after their van was found burnt out near Dease Lake, are now suspects in a fatality and a double homicide in northern B.C.
Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, were reported missing when their van was found burnt out at a highway pullout near Dease Lake on Highway 37. Sgt. Janelle Shoihet says the two men are no longer considered missing and were believed to be driving a grey 2011 Toyota Rav 4 and are in fact considered armed and dangerous.
Shoihet says the two men are considered suspects in connection to a double homicide near Liard Hot Springs on the Alaska Highway, where 23-year-old American Chynna Deese and her 24-year-old Australian boyfriend Lucas Fowler were found shot dead next to their van on the side of the road.
“It is a testament of how dynamic and ever changing the information is. We had no information as to Kam and Bryer’s wherabouts, and because we made the appeal yesterday, we now have new information where we’ve confirmed that they were seen in Northern British Columbia. We’ve been able to confirm that information within the last 24 hours.”
Mounties have still not identified the man found dead near McLeod’s and Schmegelsky’s burned out van, and have stopped short of calling his death a homicide.
Earlier in the day, Shoihet said the men were spotted in northern Saskatchewan, but Manitoba RCMP believe they were recently in the Gillam area, in the northern part of that province.
“We want the public to help us to locate Kam and Bryer,” she said.
Meanwhile, Surrey RCMP have told Radio NL News an investigation into two missing men whose white Jeep Cherokee was found near Logan Lake is not connected to the investigations in northern B.C.
Spokesperson Cpl. Elenore Sturko says police still don’t why 38-year-old Ryan Provencher and 37-year-old Richard Scurr were in the Logan Lake area, and says neither has contacted family or friends since last Wednesday.
“At this time there are no indications that this is in any way related to ongoing investigations into homicides that took place up North. So at this time it is a separate investigation.”
Sturko was asked if their disappearance is suspicious.
“We’re still in the information gathering stages of this investigation, which means that we’re still interviewing potential witnesses, speaking with people who may have information, following up on tips from the public. But what I can confirm is that it is unusual for these men to be out of touch for this long. So police and family are concerned for their well-being.”
She is urging anyone with information to reach out to RCMP.
