2019 Northern British Columbia murders

The Murders on the Alaska Highway

The violent spree began on the remote Alaska Highway in northern British Columbia. On July 14, 2019, 23-year-old Australian Lucas Fowler and his 24-year-old American girlfriend, Chynna Deese, were on a road trip when their 1986 Chevrolet van broke down approximately 20 kilometres south of Liard Hot Springs. A mechanic, Curtis Broughton, and his wife Sandra stopped to offer help around 3:20 PM PST, finding the couple having a picnic and seemingly in good spirits as they attempted to repair their vehicle. The next morning at about 7:00 AM PST, a highway maintenance worker, Trevor Pierre, discovered their bodies in a ditch near their van. Both victims had been shot multiple times and were found lying about five metres apart. Investigators later determined the couple had been shot from both the front and back, with bullets found lodged in the ground beneath them, indicating the shooting continued after they had fallen.

The remoteness of the crime scene posed immediate challenges for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The nearest detachment in Fort Nelson was three hours away, delaying the initial response. Positive identification of the victims took two full days, partly due to procedural delays with the Canada Border Services Agency. In the initial phase of the investigation, police released a sketch of a man seen speaking to the couple around 10:30 PM on July 14, labelling him a person of interest, but he was later determined to be another motorist who had stopped to offer assistance. Security camera footage would later reveal that the true perpetrators were already hundreds of kilometres north, en route to Whitehorse, by the time the bodies were discovered.

A Second Killing and the Emergence of Suspects

Four days after the first murders, a second crime scene emerged over 470 kilometres away, near Dease Lake. On July 19, RCMP responded to a report of a burning Dodge pickup truck on Highway 37, south of the Stikine River Bridge. Near the vehicle, officers found scattered camping gear, including a stove and propane tanks. Approximately two kilometres south of the burning truck, the body of 64-year-old Leonard Dyck, a University of British Columbia botany lecturer from Vancouver, was discovered in a roadside gravel pit. He had died from a single gunshot wound, under circumstances police described as similar to the first murders.

The burnt truck was registered to 19-year-old Kam McLeod from Port Alberni. He and his 18-year-old friend, Bryer Schmegelsky, had been reported missing. Initially, the RCMP treated the pair as potential victims or missing persons. However, by July 22, a witness came forward suggesting McLeod and Schmegelsky might be involved in the murders, contradicting earlier statements from family and friends who described them as good kids. That same day, the RCMP officially linked the missing men to the homicides and began seeking charges of second-degree murder against them.

The Cross-Canada Manhunt

The search for McLeod and Schmegelsky rapidly expanded into a nationwide operation. The pair had driven east across the country, covering roughly 3,200 kilometres across four provinces in ten days. Key sightings and events during their flight included a sighting in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, captured on store surveillance video on July 21. On July 22, they were stopped for a routine alcohol check by Tataskweyak Cree Nation band constables in Split Lake, Manitoba, which became the last confirmed sighting. The next day, a Toyota RAV4 believed to be driven by the suspects was found burning near Fox Lake Cree Nation, north of Gillam, Manitoba.

The RCMP concentrated massive resources in the Gillam area, deploying the Emergency Response Team, crisis negotiators, air services, and canine units. They set up armed checkpoints and canvassed over 500 homes across more than 11,000 square kilometres of challenging, swampy terrain. Despite these efforts, the suspects eluded capture. Unconfirmed sightings were reported across Ontario, from Iron Bridge to Kapuskasing, Sudbury, and North Bay. A significant breakthrough came on August 2 when a tour guide reported a blue sleeping bag near the Nelson River northeast of Gillam. Subsequent searches by the RCMP along the riverbank uncovered several items linked to the suspects, including a damaged rowboat found on August 3.

• July 21: Suspects captured on video in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.
• July 22: Last confirmed sighting during a traffic stop in Split Lake, Manitoba.
• July 23: Burnt Toyota RAV4 found near Gillam, Manitoba.
• July 24: RCMP deploys major tactical resources to the Gillam area.
• July 28: Sighting reported at the York Landing community landfill, 200 km southwest of Gillam.
• August 2: Sleeping bag reported near the Nelson River.
• August 3: Damaged rowboat found in the Nelson River.
• August 7: Bodies of the suspects discovered in bush near the river.

Discovery and Video Confessions

On August 7, 2019, RCMP officers discovered two bodies in thick bush near the Nelson River, about one kilometre west of where the damaged rowboat was found. Forensic analysis and autopsies confirmed the remains were those of Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky, and that both had died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Near their bodies, police recovered a camera containing six videos and three images. In these recordings, the pair confessed to the murders of Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck. RCMP Assistant Commissioner Kevin Hackett later described their demeanour in the videos as cold, remorseless, and matter of fact.

The videos revealed chilling details about their final plans and state of mind. They admitted to the killings but provided no motive and expressed no regret. The pair indicated they had initially intended to travel to Hudson Bay, steal a boat, and flee to Europe or Africa, but the difficult terrain and fast-moving Nelson River hampered their mobility. In one video, they suggested they would likely have to kill themselves. The RCMP report stated the two had shaved, planning to go back and kill more people and expecting to be dead within a week. Police decided not to release the videos publicly to avoid sensationalizing their actions and potentially inspiring future violence.

Investigation and Forensic Evidence

The RCMP's integrated investigation pieced together the timeline and connections between the crimes through forensic evidence and recovered items. Ballistics testing confirmed that the same firearms were used to kill all three victims and were later used in the suspects' suicides. One weapon was a semi-automatic rifle purchased legally by McLeod. The other was built using parts from multiple different guns. This link definitively connected the murders near Liard Hot Springs and Dease Lake.

Unsealed warrant applications later provided further grim details from the crime scenes. At the first site, investigators noted the presence of french fries scattered near a victim. The autopsies, conducted in Abbotsford, British Columbia, catalogued multiple gunshot wounds for both Fowler and Deese. The search for a motive proved fruitless, as interviews with family and friends yielded no insights into why the two young men from Vancouver Island began a killing spree. The RCMP's final report, released in September 2019, compiled these findings but concluded with the motive remaining unknown.

Police and Public Response

The manhunt prompted an unprecedented mobilization of police and military resources. On July 26, at the request of RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan approved military assistance. A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules aircraft from Winnipeg was deployed for aerial reconnaissance over the Gillam area, using thermal imaging equipment, though it yielded no results. The intense media coverage and public anxiety also led to the arrival of an Indigenous-led neighbourhood watch group, the Bear Clan Patrol, in Gillam to support local residents.

The case generated significant media scrutiny and public discussion. Some international media initially and incorrectly linked the murders to the Highway of Tears, a region in British Columbia known for the disappearances of Indigenous women. Journalists covering the story highlighted the challenges of operating in remote areas with poor communications. RCMP spokesperson Staff Sergeant Janelle Shoihet later reflected on the difficulty of the investigation, noting the frustration of being unable to provide a motive due to a lack of evidence. The widespread manhunt also spawned online activity, including Facebook groups theorizing about the suspects' movements and trolls who taunted police and encouraged the fugitives.

Aftermath and Unanswered Questions

The conclusion of the manhunt on August 7, 2019, did not bring closure to the central mystery of the case. The RCMP's extensive investigation, detailed in a 13-page report, confirmed the suspects' guilt through their own video confessions and forensic evidence but could not determine why the murders were committed. The families of the victims, as well as the families of McLeod and Schmegelsky, were left without an explanation for the brutal and seemingly random acts of violence. The case showed the vulnerabilities of travellers in remote regions of Canada and sparked calls for improved cellular service along northern highways.

The events of July 2019 had a long-term impact on Canadian law enforcement and public consciousness. The scale and duration of the cross-province pursuit tested RCMP coordination and resources. The story later inspired artistic works, including Wayne Wapeemukwa's 2026 film Manhunt. Ultimately, the 2019 Northern British Columbia murders remain a tragic episode in Canadian criminal history, remembered for the loss of three innocent lives, the dramatic flight and suicide of two young perpetrators, and the enduring question of motive that may never be answered.

Questions about 2019 Northern British Columbia murders

Who were the victims in the 2019 Northern British Columbia murders?

The three victims were Lucas Fowler, a 23-year-old Australian tourist. His girlfriend, Chynna Deese, a 24-year-old American tourist. And Leonard Dyck, a 64-year-old botany lecturer from Vancouver. Fowler and Deese were shot and killed on July 15, 2019, near Liard Hot Springs while on a road trip. Dyck was found dead from a gunshot wound on July 19, 2019, near Dease Lake, approximately 470 kilometres from the first crime scene.

Who were Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky?

Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, were two young men from Port Alberni, British Columbia, who were identified as the suspects in the three murders. They were initially reported as missing persons after their pickup truck was found burning near where Leonard Dyck's body was discovered. The RCMP later sought second-degree murder charges against them. After a cross-country manhunt, their bodies were found in northern Manitoba on August 7, 2019, where they had died by suicide.

What was the motive for the murders?

The motive for the murders remains unknown. Despite an extensive RCMP investigation, including the recovery of video confessions from the suspects, Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky provided no explanation for their actions in the recordings. Police interviewed family and friends, who described the pair as good kids, but no evidence emerged to clarify why they committed the killings. The RCMP's final report concluded the motive was undetermined.

How were the suspects finally found?

After weeks of searching, the suspects were found dead on August 7, 2019, in thick bush near the Nelson River, northeast of Gillam, Manitoba. The discovery followed reports from a local tour guide of a blue sleeping bag in the area on August 2. RCMP searches subsequently found items linked to the suspects along the riverbank and a damaged rowboat on August 3. The bodies were located about one kilometre west of the rowboat. Autopsies confirmed they died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Did the suspects confess to the crimes?

Yes, the suspects confessed to the murders in a series of videos recorded before their deaths. Police recovered a camera near their bodies containing six videos and three images. In these recordings, Bryer Schmegelsky and Kam McLeod admitted responsibility for killing Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck. RCMP officials stated the confessions were delivered in a cold and remorseless manner. The videos have not been released to the public to avoid sensationalizing the crimes.

How far did the suspects travel during the manhunt?

Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky travelled approximately 3,200 kilometres across four Canadian provinces over ten days. Their journey began in northern British Columbia, where the murders occurred, and took them through Saskatchewan and into Manitoba. They were last confirmed alive in Split Lake, Manitoba, on July 22. Their burnt vehicle was found near Gillam, Manitoba, on July 23, and their bodies were discovered in the same general region on August 7.

Sources and further reading

• 2019 Northern British Columbia murders (Wikipedia)
• Inside the RCMP's cross-country manhunt for admitted ... (cbc.ca)
• Canadian fugitives who murdered three planned to kill ... (theguardian.com)
• The northern B.C. murders were 2019's most gripping story ... (globalnews.ca)
• Teenage fugitives confessed to murders, police say (bbc.com)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.