Hunt for teen fugitives: The questions left unanswered
The police investigation into the killings of Australian Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend Chynna Deese has raised more questions than answers. As the manhunt continues, here’s what we need to know.
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Ever since Australian Lucas Fowler and his American girlfriend Chynna Deese were discovered shot to death on the lonely Alaska Highway on July 15, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigation has raised more questions than answers for a shocked public.
When the first details about the double homicide were released on July 16, it was a straightforward police media release announcing they were investigating two “suspicious deaths”.
There was no mention of how the couple died.
Three days later on July 18, the RCMP revealed it was a double homicide and released the names of the victims in an effort to create a timeline of the events leading up to their deaths.
On July 19, the police issued another release revealing the couple had been driving a blue Chevy and called for witnesses.
But there was still no public warning about how they died or any potential threat to the public.
WHY WASN’T THE PUBLIC WARNED?
The most immediate question — given Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were obviously shot to death — is why was the public not warned immediately that there was a killer on the loose with a gun?
On July 19, another person’s body, later identified as Leonard Dyck, was found some distance away from a burning truck in an area called Dease Lake.
The spot is about 500km away from the scene of the shooting of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese. The police revealed that the two men driving the truck, Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, were missing. The police did not reveal the discovery of Mr Dyck’s body was another potential murder scene.
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It was not until July 22, seven days after Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were found murdered, that the police acknowledged growing community concerns about the three potential murders.
Until that point they had been hosing down speculation that the two incidents were related. At that time the RCMP still had not revealed when Mr Dyck was killed or how.
WHO WAS KILLED FIRST?
One of the most obvious questions not answered would have pinpointed the travel movements of the suspects.
Was Mr Dyck killed before Mr Fowler and Ms Deese? Was Mr Dyck shot to death?
Those details still have not been revealed.
If answered, this could have warned the public an armed shooter was on the loose.
On July 22, a week after the bodies of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were found, the police finally agreed to answer questions at a media conference about the two “separate investigations”.
Police finally revealed the couple were victims of gun violence and released an identity picture of a man wanting for questioning.
On July 23, police issued a public alert about Schmegelsky and McLeod warning the public to stay away from them and call police immediately. They revealed they were believed to be driving a grey 2011 Toyota Rav 4 and were no longer missing, but considered suspects in the triple homicide investigations.
The alert revealed they have been seen in northern Saskatchewan. Police warned they may be dangerous but did not tell the public they may be armed with a gun. They did not reveal any details about the car they were travelling in, raising more questions.
WHO OWNED THE TOYOTA RAV 4?
Did the Toyota Rav 4 belong to Mr Dyck? Or was it stolen from someone else?
On July 24, a public safety alert was issued, reporting the pair may be in the next state, Manitoba, and police had “reasons to believe they were recently in Gillam”.
They revealed the teenagers had been charged with the second-degree murder of 64-year-old Mr Dyck. Police also revealed reports of the two suspects being seen in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, three days earlier.
It was also revealed that the Toyota Rav 4 they were travelling in was found on fire near Gillam.
WHY WASN’T THE CCTV FOOTAGE RELEASED EARLIER?
Finally, nearly 10 days after the bodies of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were found, the police issued a release saying the teen fugitives were considered “armed” and dangerous.
On July 27, the police released video of the suspects given them to them six days earlier on July 21, when they were spotted in a hardware store in northern Saskatchewan.
The release only led to more questions. Why didn’t police release this footage sooner?
And why wasn’t the public being warned in real time about sightings and potential travel routes?
Originally published as Hunt for teen fugitives: The questions left unanswered
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