NewsBite

Lucas Fowler murder: CCTVC video shows doomed pair the day before death

CCTV footage shows Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend hugging shortly before they were killed | WATCH

Australian Lucas Fowler, his girlfriend Chynna Deese, and the van that they had been driving.
Australian Lucas Fowler, his girlfriend Chynna Deese, and the van that they had been driving.

CCTV footage has been released of Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend Chynna Deese at a petrol station six days before they were killed.

The footage, dated July 13, shows the pair hugging after filling up their van. They were found shot dead the following day.

The footage emerged as Canadian police released related two composite sketches.

One was of a person of interest in the murders of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese.

He was seen with the couple, and was believed to be one of the last people to speak to them before the murders. Police said he was not a suspect.

The man 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,” RCMP Sergeant Janelle Shoihet.

Canadian police have released a sketch of a person of interest in the killing of Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend.
Canadian police have released a sketch of a person of interest in the killing of Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend.

Another sketch depicted the unidentified man found dead near the pickup truck driven by missing teens McLeod and Schmegelsky. It has not been revealed how the man died.

Mr Fowler’s father, NSW police chief inspector Stephen Fowler, told media it was a “love story that ended tragically”.

“Our son Lucas was having the time of his life travelling the world,” he said.

“He met a beautiful young lady, and they teamed up. They were a great pair and they fell in love. We were overjoyed for Lucas.”

As a police officer “you work with families all the time” but nothing could prepare him for the loss of his son.

“It really is the worst ever love story because we now have two young people who had everything ahead of them tragically murdered.”

Canadian police have not ruled out the double murders of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese being linked to the disappearance of two teenagers, a burning vehicle and the discovery of another man’s body.

“It’s possible,” Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman Chris Manseau told media today.

“We certainly are open to those possibilities. And our investigators are speaking to each other, sharing information and certainly looking at the possibility that they may be linked.

“Understandably, it’s unusual to have two major investigations undergoing of this nature in northern BC at the same time.”

Earlier, the RCMP called for public help to find missing teens Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, from Port Alberni, British Columbia.

In a deepening mystery, the body of an unknown man was found near a burning red and grey Dodge truck that had been driven by McLeod and Schmegelsky.

The pair’s car was found on fire Highway 37 on Friday, and the body was discovered in a nearby rest-stop.

It was about 470km from where Mr Fowler, 23, and Ms Deese, 24, were found shot dead five days earlier.

Investigators were exchanging information about the two cases in a dramatic twist to the investigation into the deaths of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese.

In a statement, the RCMP acknowledged “growing community concerns about the ongoing homicide investigations in northern BC”.

“At this time, investigators are sharing information and police would like to ensure awareness around both investigations,” RCMP spokesperson Dawn Roberts said.

“The RCMP would ask the public to continue to take any general safety precautions and remain vigilant at this time.

“We also remind travellers to share your plans with family and friends, establish check-in times and notify someone if your plans change.”

Ms Deese’s older brother, Stetson Deese, suspects the couple died trying to protect each other after their 1986 Chevrolet van broke down during a planned three-week road trip to Alaska.

New photos emerged of the van yesterday, showing its rear window smashed.

The stretch of road where Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend, Chynna Deese, broke down according to Sandra Broughton, who last saw them alive on Sunday afternoon.
The stretch of road where Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend, Chynna Deese, broke down according to Sandra Broughton, who last saw them alive on Sunday afternoon.

Motorists stopped to check on the couple, who reassured them things were under control.

“Lucas was pretty much a mechanic. He knew how to work on cars and engines really well,” Mr Deese told The Australian.

“If there was something wrong he probably would have told those travellers that came by.

“I don’t think anything was really wrong, I think they were just kind of waiting on something to cool down, and something came out of nowhere.

“What might have happened, whatever came out of nowhere, there was an intent to save each other and it just completely backfired.”

One witness has reported seeing them in a heated exchange with a “bearded man”, who approached them from a grey car.

Their bodies were reportedly found near their van, lying face down in a ditch about 20km south of Liard Hot Springs.

Police have hosed down media speculation about a serial killer. At least 18 women have been murdered or disappeared along British Columbia’s Yellowhead Highway 16, known as the “Highway of Tears”.

“It wasn’t near the `trail of tears’,” Mr Deese said. “That was a long time ago. It’s almost as if the trail of tears has just been relocated.

“Anything could be a connection to it. I don’t know how you could rule anything out.”

Mr Deese prepared an online video tribute to the couple. In it, he shared photos of Ms Deese, from North Carolina, from when she was young to her travels with Mr Fowler, the son of NSW police chief inspector Stephen Fowler.

“If you knew them, they were even nicer than they look in their pictures,” he said.

Mr Fowler’s father Stephen, also pleaded for public help to solve the crime that he says has “torn two families apart”.

“We are hopeful of a positive outcome and obviously we are appealing, along with the RMCP, for anyone to contact who may have any information whatsoever,” he said. “However little, please contact the police.”

Twist brings serial killer fears

MORE: Canada murder mystery deepens

One witness has reported seeing the couple in a heated exchange with a “bearded man”, who approached them from a grey car.

Their bodies were reportedly found near their van, lying face down in a ditch about 20km south of Liard Hot Springs, in British Columbia.

Some reports have speculated they could have been victims of a serial killer. At least 18 women have been murdered or disappeared along British Columbia’s Yellowhead Highway 16, known as the “Highway of Tears”.

“It wasn’t near the Trail of Tears,” Mr Deese said. “That was a long time ago. It’s almost as if the Trail of Tears has just been relocated.

“Anything could be a connection to it. I don’t know how you could rule anything out.”

It comes as Canadian authorities ask the public to “remain vigilant” after the couple’s highway murder, the discovery of another body and the disappearance of two teenagers.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police have repeatedly fended off speculation a serial killer was on the loose and have not publicly linked the incidents, but on Sunday acknowledged “there are growing community concerns about the ongoing homicide investigations in northern BC”.

“At this time, investigators are sharing information and police would like to ensure awareness around both investigations,” RCMP spokesperson Dawn Roberts said.

They said it was unclear how the dead male near the Dodge might be connected with the vehicle fire or the two missing teens.

Mr Fowler and Ms Deese met backpacking in Croatia two years ago, fell in love and embarked on a Canadian road trip in the old Chevrolet.

Passing motorists saw the stranded couple alongside their broken-down vehicle.

Canadian couple Curtis and Sandra Broughton stopped to offer help about 3.20pm

on Sunday.

Mr Broughton, a mechanic, told AAP he spoke to Mr Fowler but the young Australian seemed to know how to fix the van so the Broughtons left.

Perhaps the biggest clue came from a road worker, Alandra Hull, who told the Nine Network she saw Mr Fowler and Ms Deese on the highway the night before they were found dead talking to a man who “kind of looked frustrated or something”.

That man was standing in the highway staring at Mr Fowler and Ms Deese. Ms Hull is working with an RCMP artist to provide a sketch of the man.

With AAP.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/lucas-fowler-murder-canada-police-move-to-play-down-fears-of-serial-killer-in-british-columbia/news-story/2c06336f76e97a66d7866476e0df76cc