Canada murders: Police release image of man wanted over Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese deaths
Canadian police are investigating the possibility a serial killer is on the loose after releasing the image of a man seen speaking to Australian backpacker Lucas Fowler the day before he and his girlfriend were shot dead.
True Crime
Don't miss out on the headlines from True Crime. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Police have released the image of a bearded man wanted over the murders of Aussie backpacker Lucas Fowler and his American girlfriend Chynna Deese in Canada.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police revealed the man’s face at a presser where they also confirmed the young couple were “the victims of gun violence” — a fact confirmed by NSW Police on Friday.
They say the wanted man was seen speaking to Fowler the day before he and his girlfriend were discovered dead.
Mystery man ‘argued’ with couple before murders
Murdered Lucas had travelled to Canada for love
‘We were the last to see murdered couple alive’
The man who was seen talking to Mr Fowler was described “as caucasian with darker skin and dark hair”.
“He’s shorter than Lucas who stood six foot three (190cm) and has a possible beard or glasses,” said RCMP Sergeant Janelle Shoihet.
“He was driving an older model Jeep Cherokee with a black stripe on the hood and was believed to have been travelling southbound.”
The RMCP also released haunting CCTV footage of the last time the couple were seen together.
The vision, captured at a petrol station in Fort Nelson, BC, in Canada shows the couple hugging as Fowler fills the van with petrol.
Just two days later the pair was dead.
Fowler’s father, NSW Chief Inspector Stephen Fowler, also spoke at the presser held in British Columbia (BC).
“I may be an experienced police officer, but today I am standing here as the father of a murder victim. We are just distraught,” he said.
He appealed to the public to help police, adding no tip is too small.
“It’s a love story that has ended tragically … it’s the worst ever love story, because we now have two young people who had everything ahead of them, tragically murdered.”
The grieving father said he communicated with Lucas hours before he left on his trip.
“He’s a loss to so many people.
“And his girlfriend also. It’s just devastating and our heart goes out to the whole of her family. You know, we’re just crushed.”
Their slain bodies are now in Vancouver being examined by forensic experts for any clues to identify their killer.
New photos released yesterday also show the damage to the rear window of the couple’s van which News Corp Australia can reveal broke down at another location on the remote Alaska Highway on July 14 before reaching the spot where they were seen arguing with a “bearded man” and later found shot.
POLICE CAN’T RULE OUT SERIAL KILLER
The RCMP raised fears the couple may be victims of a murderous crime spree in northern BC by declaring it was possible the killings are linked to the discovery on Friday of another dead man, two missing teenagers and a torched Dodge pick-up truck.
“It’s possible,” RCMP Corporal Chris Manseau told reporters.
“We have two complex and dynamic ongoing investigations that are happening in northern BC.”
Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, both from Port Alberni were travelling through British Columbia to visit Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory to look for work. It is not clear why they returned to BC and what their travel plans may be.
The RMCP said McLeod and Schmegelsky were driving the Dodge pick-up but have not been in contact with their family for the last few days.
Sgt Shoihet said investigators are not treating the teens as suspects but want them to contact authorities.
“We’re hopeful they’re alive,” Sgt Shoihet said.
The RCMP today released an image of the dead man found on Friday, hoping someone might recognise him.
He is described as being white and between 5’8” and 5’10” (172cm-177cm).
He had a heavy build, a grey beard and grey hair, and was between the ages of 50 and 60.
As part of the investigation, they’ve set up a new tip line.
Recognize the man in this sketch? His body was found 2 km from a burning pickup truck. The teens who were driving the truck are missing. https://t.co/kWFuEbzFfP
— Kendra Mangione (@kendramangione) July 22, 2019
One of Deese’s relatives yesterday paid a pictorial tribute to the travel-loving blonde, posting images of her from around the world, including the Grand Canyon and what appeared to be the Yosemite National Park in California.
The couple’s bodies were moved to Fort Nelson General Hospital, a four-hour drive from the remote spot were they were killed, soon after they were discovered just before 7.20am on July 15.
From there, they were flown by a police aeroplane to Vancouver on Thursday after being placed in metal caskets to ensure any clues that would help identify their killer were not interfered with.
A member of staff at the hospital said: “The remains arrived in body bags and were put into metal caskets when they were here.”
“They were put into storage until Thursday when they were transported out by police transport.
‘Remain vigilant’: Death, disappearances on murder road
“We were absolutely not allowed to touch the remains at all as that would have interfered with the forensic examinations, that’s why they had to be put into the caskets.
“We were told they went to Vancouver because that is where the facilities and forensic experts are to carry out all the necessary examinations. We just don’t have those kinds of facilities in this area.”
Fowler’s father, his mother and three siblings arrived in Vancouver on Saturday.
Deese’s family has remained in the US as they are said to be “too upset” to travel.
Sylvie Adler who works at the Boston Pizza restaurant in Fort Nelson said the couple’s van broke down shortly before they reached the spot where they were shot and killed.
She said a couple saw the van on Sunday, July 14 at about 5pm local time.
“A couple I know with children were driving on the Alaska Highway and came across their van broken down at Muncho Lake,” she said.
“They got them going again but they must have broken down again pretty quickly as they were found not too far away north.
The extent of the damage to the murdered couple’s camper van can be seen in pictures taken by towing company boss Devan Boynton.
Devon, the owner operator of Archie’s Towing who brought Fowler’s van back to Fort Nelson, said: “I got a call at lunchtime on July 16th go get it and bring it back to Fort Nelson.
“The bodies had been picked up before we got there and had been taken away.
“The van was fairly clean but the back window was smashed open.
“I couldn’t see through the windows of the vehicle and we weren’t allowed to touch it.
“I don’t know what to make of the murders, it’s just so strange.”
Originally published as Canada murders: Police release image of man wanted over Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese deaths
‘I was groomed’: Cocaine Cassie’s private pain revealed
Convicted drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury has told how her downward spiral began with one fateful meeting. See the video.
‘Overwhelmed with shame’: Cocaine Cassie’s shock claims
Cassie Sainsbury reveals her shame and secret battle behind moving back to Australia in her new bombshell memoir. Read the exclusive book extract.