Tattooed man on loose near Canada murder highway

A wanted man with a Pentagram tattoo who crossed into Canada just weeks ago was on the loose in the area of the Canada highway double murders, police fear.

A man with a Pentagram tattoo who crossed from Texas on the run into Canada just weeks ago may have been on the loose in the area of the highway double murder.

In a bizarre new twist in the “highway of Tears” case, Derek Whisenand, 27, crossed into Canada after allegedly beating a 78-year-old man to death on June 26 in Texas.

Police on Monday released a sketch of a bearded man who was seen talking to the couple on the highway who they wanted to speak to as a witness, not a suspect.

Mr Whisenand has been photographed wearing a beard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police said he is believed to have crossed into Canada illegally.

But they were not calling him a suspect in the murders of Australian man Lucas Fowler and his American girlfriend Chynna Deese.

Mr Fowler, 23, and Ms Deese, 24, were murdered in their blue Chevrolet van earlier this week.

The couple was shot and left by the side of the road, 20km south of Liard River Hot Springs, British Columbia on Monday.

Four days later, a third body was found six hours west of where the young adventurers were brutally murdered.

Then two men were also reported missing on the same highway.

Several different theories have emerged as to what, if anything, connects the five people either dead or missing on the remote stretch of highway in British Columbia?

Police are attempting to join the dots in an increasingly bizarre set of circumstances along what’s known as the Highway of Tears.

Texas fugitive Derek Whisenand may have been on the loose in the area of the Canadian highway murders. Picture: RCMP

Bryer Schmegeski.

Kam McLeod.

Not much new information from @BCRCMP on the two missing men whose vehicle was found south of Dease Lake on fire. They're confirming a man's body found near the vehicle was neither Kam McLeod or Bryer Shmegelsky. Still trying to ID that man. Police have released a sketch of him

— Alison Bailey (@abailey1130) July 22, 2019

A man in his 50s, who has not yet been identified, was found two kilometres from a burnt-out red and grey Dodge campervan. Initial reports linked the man to the vehicle, but it has since been revealed the car belonged to teenagers Bryer Schmegeski and Kam McLeod.

School friends Schmegeski, 18, and McLeod, 19, were in the region looking for work, family members say, but they have not been seen since the vehicle — and the body — were discovered.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been keen to put distance between the three separate events but have acknowledged they may be connected

“We are looking into the possibility that they may be linked,” RCMP media spokeswoman Sergeant Janelle Shoihet said today.

“This is unusual, to have two major investigations of this nature in northern B.C. at the same time, so we recognize that these two investigations may be linked.”

Derek Whisenand is on the loose in Canada. Picture: RCMP.

Police want to speak with this bearded witness. Picture: RCMP.

In a statement yesterday, police said Schmegeski and McLeod had been in “regular contact” with family but fell off the radar. Police have not ruled out the possibility they are lost, are without phone reception or have met foul play.

“On July 19, 2019, officers from the Dease Lake RCMP Detachment arrived at the scene of a vehicle fire south of the Stikine River Bridge on Highway 37,” the statement read.

“While examining the vehicle, police officers received additional information that led them to discover a body near a nearby rest area.

“The BC RCMP is now asking for public assistance to locate the two young men driving the burning vehicle 50km south of Dease Lake.

The vehicle the teens were driving has been found, burnt out.

Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese on CCTV two days before they were murdered.

“Kam and Bryer travelled across British Columbia to Whitehorse, Yukon to look for work. It is unclear why they returned to British Columbia or what their travel plans might be.

“Kam and Bryer have been in regular contact with family and friends over the past week and may now be in an area where there is no cell phone coverage.”

Police held a press conference on Monday evening local time to update the media on investigations. Almost immediately, they were challenged by a reporter about the speed with which the investigation was progressing and the lack of available information.

“Why can’t you give us an indication of how he died?” the reporter asked in relation to the third victim, described only a caucasian male with a beard.

“The public is wondering what is going on. They’re not getting answers from you. Why can’t you give us an idea about whether there is a linkage (between the three deaths)? Is there a serial killer? People have the right to know.”

Police have not yet confirmed whether the discovery of the third body is being treated as a homicide investigation or how the man died.

Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese. Picture courtesy of the Deese family.

Police did, however, offer new information about the last moments for young adventurers Mr Fowler and Ms Deese — a couple who met in Croatia and fell in love.

Sgt Shoihet said they were “victims of gun violence” and had been involved in a discussion with a man on the side of the road the night before their bodies were found.

Police are hoping to speak to that man.

“He is caucasian, has dark skin and dark hair, is shorter than 6’3” and has a possible beard and glasses,” the spokeswoman said.

“He was driving an older model Jeep Cherokee with a black stripe on the hood and was believed to have been travelling southbound.”

As well as a composite sketch of their “person of interest”, police released haunting CCTV footage of the last time Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were seen together.

The video footage was captured two nights before they were killed at a petrol station. In it, the pair share a long hug before driving away.

Today marks seven days since Mr Fowler and Ms Deese were discovered. Police say they’re working as fast as they can but the unanswered questions continue to pile up.

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