Canada murders: Police reveal investigation findings into the deaths of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese
Canadian police have revealed disturbing new information about the teenage killers who murdered an Australian man and his girlfriend, as unseen footage of the couple emerged.
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The teenage Canadians who murdered an Australian tourist and his girlfriend, planned on killing more people, according to a new report from local authorities.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police released a new report today into the killings of Australian tourist Lucas Fowler, 23, and his American girlfriend Chynna Deese, 24 and botanist Leonard Dyck, 64.
The report concluded Kam McLeod, 18, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 19, murdered the three people in what were crimes of opportunity without motive.
The 13-page report revealed the duo recorded several videos of themselves that included taking responsibility for the crimes. But they showed no remorse.
The camera had been taken from Dyck.
Police will not release the videos to avoid ‘glorifying’ the murderers and creating copycats, on the advice of a forensic pathologist.
“To mitigate the potential of other individuals being inspired by McLeod and Schmegelsky to commit similar acts of violence,” a police statement said.
The report revealed a number of other details that had previously not been made public.
In a press conference that accompanied the release of the report, police said there was no evidence that the killings were planned and that the teenagers were solely responsible for the three deaths.
During a search of the pair’s residences, nothing was found regarding “any pre-planning of the offences,” police said.
Authorities also said the men acted as “a partnership” as opposed to one being the leader.
On the videos, the pair confess to the murders, and speak of their intention to take their own lives.
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More information about each murder was also publicly released. Fowler and Deese died of multiple gunshot wounds, with some appearing to come from behind, the report said.
There was no evidence of sexual assault.
Those murders took place on July 15 after McLeod and Schmegelsky came across the travellers with their broken down van on a highway in northern British Columbia.
Dyck was killed four days later.
Police said there was an “escalation” of violence between the crime scenes.
Dyck had injuries to his head and body, including bruises and burn marks. Police initially believed the cause of death was blunt force trauma. However the coroner found a bullet entry and exit wound when Dyck’s body was moved. A spent bullet casing was found at the scene.
Police conclusion
“The investigative theory is that McLeod and Schmegelsky came across Lucas Fowler’s van and targeted Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese for unknown reasons,” Assistant Commissioner Kevin Hackett said when releasing the report.
“They shot and killed the couple before continuing up into the Yukon.
“The two returned to British Columbia days later because they were having vehicle issues and came across Leonard Dyck outside of Dease Lake and shot and killed him.
“The suspects then burned their vehicle to cover up evidence and delay police before stealing Mr Dyck’s vehicle, money and a number of personal items — all of which facilitated further escape ultimately toward Eastern Canada.
Police released this summary of the six videos:
1. The video is 58 seconds long and both McLeod and Schmegelsky are observed in the video. Schmegelsky states they are responsible for the three murders. They were going to march to Hudson Bay where they planned to hijack a boat and go to Europe or Africa;
2. This video is 51 seconds long and Schmegelsky states they had reached the river which is very big and fast moving and they may have to commit suicide to which McLeod agrees. They again take credit for killing 3 people and express no remorse;
3. This video is 32 seconds long and Schmegelsky says they have shaved in preparation for their own death. They now plan to go back to kill more people and expect to be dead in a week;
4. This video is 19 seconds long and they describe they are going to shoot themselves;
5. This video is 6 seconds long and appeared to have been taken unintentionally;
6. This video is 31 seconds long and McLeod and Schmegelsky state this is their last will and testament and express their wish to be cremated.
“Once they reached Manitoba they again burned the stolen vehicle and attempted to continue on foot, before they realised their efforts were failing.
“It is believed that McLeod shot Schmegelsky before shooting himself in a suicide pact.”
‘Fail to understand why’
The Fowler family posted a note to Facebook before the release of the report, saying “we struggle daily with what happened and fail to understand why.”
The note was signed by Fowler’s parents and siblings. The post said they wanted to remember him as a fun-loving kid who grew into a thoughtful adult who cared for his family and friends.”
They asked his friends to raise a glass to him on September 30, what would have been his 24th birthday.
“Obviously it will not be an easy day for us, but it is a day to celebrate a great young man taken from us all far too early,” the Facebook post read.
The Deese family also released a statement.
“No one ever wants to be a victim or wishes that for their loved one. Our beloved Chynna was a ray of sun shine, and for her to be taken has made the world feel a bit darker,” it read.
“The loss we continue to endure is shattering, but Chynna’s memories are a benediction to her genuine happiness and intense love of life. Throughout this tragedy, along with the help of many, they serve as our reminder of the good nature and peace humanity has the capacity to show. We hope Chynna’s legacy continues to grow and her spark allows us to build each other up.”
Before the murder report was made public, previously unseen footage of Deese and Fowler was released.
15-day manhunt
After a 15-day manhunt which stretched across four Canadian provinces, Schmegelsky and McLeod were found dead on August 7, in the wilderness near the town of Gillam in Northern Manitoba.
Police said the two appeared to have been dead for days before they were found, with two firearms nearby.
A recorded video of their last wishes was located with them, on a mobile phone.
The video described as Schmegelsky’s “last will and testament” became the subject of a brief legal battle between the RCMP and Schmegelsky’s father Alan, who was fighting to view it.
He was allowed access to it but had to sign a confidentiality agreement promising not to reveal its contents.
After the discovery of the killers’ bodies, the RCMP said it was committed to sharing the details of the investigation with the public, after providing updates to the families of the victims and suspects.
Mr Fowler and Ms Deese had set off from a ranch where Mr Fowler had been working, for a driving and camping holiday across Canada when their van broke down on the remote Alaska Highway.
The teenage boys had set off in their Dodge pick-up on July 12 from Vancouver, telling family they were heading north to look for work, after quitting their low paying jobs at Walmart.
It has been revealed the teenagers bought a hunting rifle before they left on their trip.
Three days later Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were found shot to death alongside their broken down campervan on the highway near Liard Hot Springs in northern British Columbia.
Four days after that, Mr Dyck was found dead 500km away on another highway. Schmegelsky’s and McLeod’s abandoned, burnt out Dodge was found a further two km away from the burning car.
Police initially failed to connect the three crime scenes, listing the teens as missing persons. Then eight days after Mr Fowler and Ms Deese’s bodies were found, they switched their status from missing to murder suspects.
The RCMP launched a manhunt which lasted more than two weeks. RCMP officers worked 24/7, logging more than 4,500 investigation hours.
After the burnt out RAV 4 car that the teenagers had stolen from Mr Dyck was found 4000km away police zeroed in on Northern Manitoba searching more than 11,000 square kilometres of rugged terrain. The police called in the armed service to help scour rail lines, trains, hydro corridors, roads, waterways, coast line, forest and trails. They went door to door and searched hundreds of abandoned buildings and huts.
The hunt included aeroplanes, helicopters, boats, ATVs, police dogs, armoured vehicles, drones and underwater recovery teams and following up 250 tips from the public.