Overview of Fort Nelson and Dease Lake Homicide Investigation

North District

2019-09-27 14:30 PDT

Report

This overview is a summary of the totality of the investigative findings. The information is based on a review of digital and physical evidence to date, including statements, tips and forensic examination reports.

(All times referenced are Pacific Standard Time (PST) unless indicated). 
 

Fort Nelson Double Homicide

On Monday, July 15, 2019, at approximately 7:19 a.m., the Fort Nelson RCMP responded to a report of two deceased persons near Highway 97, south of the Liard River Hot Springs in British Columbia. The two bodies were located near a blue van with Alberta plates, which was registered to Lucas Fowler from Beaverlodge, Alberta. The crime scene was located 3.5 hours north of Fort Nelson, near the 740 kilometer marker in a remote area.

At approximately 10:22 a.m., police arrived at scene and confirmed the license plate and determined the back window of the van was shot out. Preliminary observations revealed both deaths appeared to be a result of gunshot wounds. The North District Major Crime Unit was deployed to investigate the suspicious deaths.

The victims did not have any identification and police were unable to determine if the male was the registered owner of the van. On July 15, 2019, a search warrant was sworn to search the van for evidence and the warrant was executed on July 16, 2019. The search continued through July 17, 2019. From the search, police located identification belonging to two individuals: Lucas Robertson Fowler, a 23-year-old Australian citizen and Chynna Noel Deese, a 24-year-old American citizen. Fowler was in Canada on a work visa and Deese was visiting Fowler from the United States. They were on a vacation together traveling to the Yukon in Fowler’s van.

On July 17, 2019, the Next of Kin notifications were done with the Fowler and Deese families after a careful verification of the victim identities and correspondence with the US Consulate Office, Australian Consulate Office and New South Wales Police. The identities of the decease were disclosed publicly on July 18, 2019 in order to support the on-going investigation which had not established a possible motive or suspect(s).

Police conducted an extensive search of the crime scene and surrounding areas. Various items were seized, including unspent and spent casings with head stamp 101 and 75. The crime scene exhibits were sent to firearms lab for examination. [The number 75 is a date stamp that indicates the ammunition was manufactured in 1975 and the number 101 refers to the factory where the ammunition was produced. The seized ammunition was deemed to be 7.62 x 39mm calibre. Firearms known to fire this calibre include a firearm commonly referred to as a SKS, which is a non-restricted, semi-automatic rifle.]

Subsequent to a media release requesting public assistance for information, police received several tips, obtained surveillance video and witness statements. Investigators seized a surveillance video which placed Fowler and Deese at a Fort Nelson gas station on July 13, 2019.

On July 21, 2019, police took a statement from a witness who saw the blue van broken down, parked off the side of the Highway. On July 14, 2019, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the witness stopped to render assistance and spoke with Fowler and Deese who stated they planned to call a tow truck eventually.

On July 16, 2019, police interviewed another witness who observed a male speaking to Fowler and Deese on July 14, 2019 at approximately 10:40 p.m. The witness described that the van’s back window was intact and not damaged. This was the last known time that Fowler and Deese were seen alive.

Based on the witness information, a composite sketch was created and released publicly on July 22nd in order to determine the identity of the individual, along with his vehicle, an older model Jeep Cherokee with a black stripe on the hood and a black light/bull bar with small, covered lights. This unknown male was considered a person of interest initially, however he was changed to a witness after McLeod and Schmegelsky’s involvement came to light. This witness remains unidentified to date.

On July 19, 2019, an autopsy was performed on Fowler and Deese. The pathologist concluded that Fowler and Deese both died of multiple gunshot wounds. It appears that the shooter(s) stood behind the victims for at least some of the shots.  
 

Dease Lake Homicide

On July 19, 2019 at approximately 7:19 a.m., the Dease Lake RCMP responded to a vehicle fire on Highway 37, approximately 60 kilometers south of Dease Lake, British Columbia. At approximately 7:54 a.m., police arrived at scene and observed the truck was completely burned. Police located a burnt license plate which was determined to be from a Dodge pick-up truck registered to Kam McLeod from Port Alberni, British Columbia

View larger image: Dodge pick-truck in the forest image #1 and image #2

On July 19, 2019, at approximately 8:29 a.m., a highway worker stopped and advised the Dease Lake RCMP officer at the burnt truck scene about a deceased male he had just located approximately 2 kilometers south. The deceased was an older male and he did not match the physical descriptors of McLeod. The deceased suffered injuries to his head and body, including bruises and burn marks. Initially, the cause of death was unknown. [The police are not releasing further details of the injuries out of respect for the deceased’s family and not to further victimize them.]

On July 19, 2019, the E Division Major Crime Unit was deployed to support the Dease Lake RCMP and the North District Major Crime with the investigation. Police did not know how the deceased male was connected to the vehicle fire or the missing registered owner. As a result, a search warrant was drafted to search the burnt truck.

The Dease Lake homicide was approximately 546 kilometers (approximately 7.5 hour drive) away from the Fort Nelson murders. Both murders happened within four days of each other in the northern BC area. As a result, investigators from both Fort Nelson and Dease Lake homicides shared information to ensure awareness around both investigations.

During the late hours of July 19, 2019, police spoke with a family member of McLeod and determined he left Port Alberni with his friend, Bryer Schmegelsky on July 12, 2019. On July 20, 2019, the Port Alberni RCMP conducted interviews with the McLeod and Schmegelsky families, who described them as good kids who were on a trip to northern British Columbia and Yukon to look for work. Furthermore, the family stated they sent photos of their trip via texts and shared that they had vehicle troubles. Their last contact with family was on July 17, 2019.

Police checks revealed McLeod and Schmegelsky had limited police interactions [nothing of note] and no criminal records. Based on the known facts at the time, both males were considered missing and possibly further victims. Police Dog Services, Search and Rescue, Tactical Troop and Air Services were utilized in efforts to locate the missing men in the Dease Lake area and further evidence.

On July 20, 2019, police started processing the Dease Lake crime scene. Initially there was no obvious cause of death but upon the arrival of the coroner later that day the body was moved and a believed to be single entry/exit wound for a bullet was located. A spent casing was located pressed into the ground a distance from the unidentified deceased male. A later analysis of the spent casing showed it had a head stamp 101 and 75 and it was sent to the firearms lab for examination.

On July 20, 2019, the initial responding Dease Lake RCMP officer seized a surveillance video from a local store in Dease Lake as the member recalled seeing McLeod’s truck in Dease Lake area on July 18, 2019. This is the only store in town that people could use to fuel up and would have been a probable stop for any travellers. The store video from July 18, 2019 at 3:10 p.m. showed McLeod and Schmegelsky purchasing various items including donut packages, a Coffee Crisp chocolate bar and two pairs of gloves.

Remnants of these items were recovered in two separate areas near the Dease Lake crime scene on July 22 and July 23, 2019. Furthermore, a damaged SIM card belonging to McLeod and his Walmart employee id card was located along with these remnants. Six scenes were identified over a 50 kilometer radius. (Refer to Dyck Homicide 2019-8152 Crime Scene Maps)

On July 21, 2019, a media release was conducted requesting public’s assistance in locating McLeod and Schmegelsky. On July 22, 2019, at approximately 1:06 p.m., a composite sketch of the victim was released to the public, requesting assistance in identifying the deceased male.

On July 22, 2019, a search warrant was executed on the truck and the search involved specialized investigators from across the province as remnants had to be sifted through due to the fire. From the search, a burnt metal ammunition container was located. Although the container was damaged, the numbers 7.62 and 19-75-101 could be identified on the top of the canister. Furthermore, multiple burnt ammunition rounds with head stamp 101 and 75 were seized from the truck. [the ammunition was not located until July 23, 2019] Police also seized a gas nozzle from a jerry can near the burnt truck

On July 22, 2019, at approximately 07:30 a.m., the Meadow Lake RCMP responded to information that McLeod and Schmegelsky had been at a gas station in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. At approximately 2:00 p.m., the E Division (BC) Major Crime investigators received the surveillance stills from the Meadow Lake RCMP, which showed McLeod and Schmegelsky associated to a grey coloured Toyota RAV4.

At approximately 2:00 p.m., primary investigators became aware of a witness who came forward to a RCMP detachment and provided a statement. The witness knew McLeod and Schmegelsky and believed the boys may have been involved in the murders. This is the first time that police learned that McLeod and Schmegelsky may be capable of the murders which conflicted with original witness statements from family and associates.

At approximately 5:00 p.m., Helen Dyck called the police and reported that she believed the composite sketch was her husband Leonard Dyck. Leonard Dyck was a 64-year-old botany lecturer at the University of British Columbia. He left his Vancouver residence on July 16th to go on one of his characteristic outdoor research trips in his silver Toyota RAV4. Helen Dyck stated her husband typically slept in his car after long drives. Leonard Dyck’s last gas purchase was made on July 18th at approximately 7:46 p.m. This store was located approximately 20 kilometers away from where his body was discovered.

The Investigative Teams from both files met and it was determined that McLeod and Schmegelsky were no longer considered missing, but were suspects in the Dease Lake and Fort Nelson homicide. McLeod and Schmegelsky were positively identified from the Meadow Lake surveillance video and were associated to a silver coloured Toyota RAV4. Leonard Dyck owned a silver Toyota RAV4. Victims from both scenes suffered gunshot wounds in similar locations and spent casings from both scenes were of 7.62 x 39mm calibre with the 101 and 75 markings on the head stamp.

On the evening of July 22, 2019, McLeod and Schmegelsky were added to CPIC as suspects and arrestable in the murders of Dyck, Deese and Fowler. Bulletins were sent out to Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies advising the same.

On the morning of July 23, 2019, a media release was completed and the public was advised of the change of status to suspects for McLeod and Schmegelsky.

On July 23, 2019, the E Division (BC) Major Crime Unit investigators working on Dyck homicide and the North District Major Crime Unit working Fowler and Deese homicide merged as a joint team in Fort Nelson.

On July 23, 2019, an autopsy was conducted on Leonard Dyck. The preliminary findings showed a single gunshot wound was the cause of the death

On July 24, 2019, the firearms lab provided preliminary findings to the investigators. There were two firearms used in the Fort Nelson homicide, both of 7.62 x 39 mm calibre. One of the guns used in Fort Nelson was used in the Dease Lake homicide.

On July 24, 2019, the firearms lab provided preliminary findings to the investigators. There were two firearms used in the Fort Nelson homicide, both of 7.62 x 39 mm calibre. One of the guns used in Fort Nelson was used in the Dease Lake homicide.

On July 26, 2019, search warrants were executed at McLeod and Schmegelsky’s residence in Port Alberni looking for ammunition and any planning material. There was nothing located of note regarding any pre-planning of the offences or motive.

During the homicide investigations in the BC the RCMP issued 10 news releases and conducted a total of 6 press conferences to keep the public informed.
 

Timeline of McLeod and Schmegelsky

Police were able to establish a timeline for McLeod and Schmegelsky. (Refer to the Suspect Movement Map) A majority of the below information was learned by investigators after the fact.

On July 12, 2019, McLeod and Schmegelsky left their residence in Port Alberni, British Columbia. On the same day, they legally purchased one SKS semi-automatic rifle and a box of 20 rounds of Winchester 7.62 x 39mm ammunition using McLeod’s Possession and Acquisition License at Cabela’s in Nanaimo, BC.

On July 14, 2019 at 10:14 a.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky were observed on surveillance video at a business in Chetwynd, British Columbia.

On July 14, 2019, at 5:05 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky were at a gas station in Fort Nelson. They purchased food, a cowboy hat and fuel from the location.
 

On July 15, 2019, at 1:50 a.m., a surveillance video from Liard Hot Springs Lodge showed a truck travelling northbound on Alaska Highway. It was a pick-up truck with camper and a light bar on the roof, which was consistent with McLeod’s vehicle.

On July 15, 2019, at 3:25 a.m., surveillance video from a Watson Lake gas station showed a truck consistent with McLeod’s vehicle travelling northbound on Alaska Highway. [This gas station is located 150 kilometers away from Liard River Hot Springs and would take roughly two hours by driving.]

On July 15, 2019, at approximately 7:19 a.m., the Fort Nelson RCMP received a report of two deceased bodies near Liard River Hot Springs.
 

On July 15, 2019, at 4:00 p.m., Schemegelsky and McLeod were at a Whitehorse gas station. They purchased a 20-liter gas jerry can. [A jerry can nozzle was seized from the burnt truck scene.]

On July 16, 2019, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a witness was working as a traffic control supervisor near 1435 kilometer marker on the Alaska Highway east of Whitehorse in Yukon. The witness observed an older Dodge truck stopped along the Highway with the hood up and two young males. The witness offered assistance, but one of the males declined help and continued North bound.

On July 17, 2019, at approximately 6:27 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky were observed at a gas station in Porter Creek in Whitehorse.

On July 17, 2019, at approximately 11:40 p.m., a witness was driving westbound on Alaska Highway and pulled off the road into a pullout to take a nap. This was located approximately 30 minutes west from Haines Junction Petro Canada and 2 hours 10 minutes west of Whitehorse. Within 5 minutes of being parked, a truck with camper drove past him and stopped about 50 yards ahead. An unknown male got out of the passenger side of the truck holding a long gun. The male walked towards the tree line and started moving towards the witness in a tactical or hunting stance. The truck also started driving slowly towards the witness. The witness drove away from the armed male and drove past the truck. The driver covered his face with his hand and the witness was not able to see the driver’s face. [Although the witness described the truck as being a white GMC, the time, location and male descriptions fit McLeod and Schmegelsky. The witness made the report to police on July 21, 2019.]On July 18, 2019 at 3:03 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky made purchases at a store in Dease Lake as previously mentioned.

On July 18, 2019 at 3:03 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky made purchases at a store in Dease Lake as previously mentioned.

On July 19, 2019 at approximately 8:29 a.m., Dyck’s body was located by the Dease Lake RCMP.

On July 19, 2019, at 11:38 a.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky were observed at a Kitwanga gas station. They were seen in a silver RAV4. [This gas station is located at the junction of Highway 16 and Highway 37 and approximately 420 kilometers south of the Dease Lake homicide scene.]

On July 19, 2019, at approximately 4:47 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky purchased a crow bar and electrical tape at a Vanderhoof hardware store. [This electrical tape is believed to have been used by McLeod and Schmegelsky to put racing stripes on the hood and back tire of the RAV4 in order to change the appearance of the vehicle. The surveillance video from Vanderhoof showed no distinct marks on the RAV4.]

On July 20, 2019 at 5:34 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky were observed making purchases at a gas store in Fairview, Alberta.

On July 21, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky were observed at a gas station in Meadow Lake in Saskatchewan, driving a silver RAV4. [This surveillance video established McLeod and Schmegelsky’s links to the Dease Lake homicide as described earlier.]

On July 21, 2019, at 7:59 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky were observed at a gas station in La Ronge, Saskatchewan in the RAV4.

On July 22, 2019, at 1:10 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky were observed at the McDonald’s in Thompson, Manitoba. They were driving the RAV4. The surveillance video showed black racing stripes on the hood and back tire of the vehicle.

On July 22, 2019, at around 2:30 p.m., a Band Constable from Split Lake, Manitoba was at a check stop near the entrance to Split Lake on Highway 280. A silver SUV was coming from the direction of Thompson and drove past the Band Constable, but stopped eventually. The Band Constable dealt with the two males and allowed them to continue on their way. The following day the Band Constable realized both males were McLeod and Schmegelsky.

On July 22, 2019, at 4:12 p.m., McLeod and Schmegelsky purchased gas at a business in Split Lake, Manitoba.

On July 23, 2019, at around noon, the Major Crime investigators learned that a burnt RAV4 was located in Gillam, Manitoba on July 22, 2019. 
 

Search for McLeod and Schmegelsky

On July 22, 2019, Gillam RCMP were dispatched to a vehicle fire. A RAV4 was found burnt and an investigation commenced. On July 23, 2019, officers with the Gillam RCMP reviewed the BC RCMP advisory and believed the vehicle could potentially be associated to the two suspects.

On July 23, 2019, at approximately 2:00 p.m. (Central Daylight Time – CDT), Major Crime Investigators from Manitoba RCMP headquarters in Winnipeg were advised of this potential linkage and immediate response initiatives were undertaken. At 4:43 p.m. (CDT), on July 23, 2019, the Manitoba RCMP alerted the public that McLeod and Schmegelsky may be in the Gillam area and were considered dangerous.

Additional RCMP officers were deployed to the scene on the afternoon of July 23 and an RCMP plane with infrared capabilities flew over the area that evening. The RCMP plane also flew over the area on July 24.

On July 24, the burnt RAV4 was confirmed to be the vehicle that belonged to Leonard Dyck.
 

View larger image: Burnt RAV4 image #1 and image #2

During the following days, hundreds of RCMP employees and multiple resources assisted and/or were deployed to the Gillam area to search for, and arrest the two suspects in an effort to ensure public safety. In addition, on July 27, the Royal Canadian Air Force began assisting with the search.

On July 29, 2019, police located several items belonging to the suspects in the Sundance area, including hundreds of rounds of ammunition from a number of scenes. This led investigators to focus on locating additional evidence within this area.

On August 1, 2019, McLeod’s backpack was located containing a full box of ammunition, McLeod’s wallet with his identification and clothing.

On August 2, 2019, police located a damaged boat along the Nelson River. [now believed to be unrelated]

On August 4, 2019, an underwater search was conducted where the boat was found. The search did not uncover any additional items linked to the suspects.

On August 7, 2019, police located two deceased bodies approximately 8 kilometers away from the burnt RAV4. Police seized two SKS semi-automatic rifles near the deceased males and two spent 7.62 x 39mm cartridges. These rifles were examined by the firearms lab and they were determined to be the same guns used in Fort Nelson and Dease Lake homicides. One of the two guns was determined to be same gun purchased by McLeod and Schmegelsky at the Vancouver Island business.
 

View larger image of geo location of evidence mapped in Manitoba

Recovery of digital camera

Police recovered a digital camera where the bodies of McLeod and Schmegelsky were located. The camera contained six videos and three still images. In the videos, McLeod and Schmegelsky took responsibility for all three murders. They also described their intent to commit suicide and their wish to be cremated.  

Below is a 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 highjack 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.

Below is a summary of the 3 still images:

1. Still image #1 depicts Schmegelsky lying on his side posing with a SKS rife;
2. Still image #2 is a blurred image and appears to be taken unintentionally as a finger is across the lens;
3. Still Image #3 depicts McLeod from the chest up and appears to have been taken by McLeod.

These videos do not contain any information regarding the motive behind their actions nor do they provide specifics regarding the murders.

Forensic analysis to date has been unable to determine the exact date and time for when each of the videos and still images were taken. The digital camera has been identified as Dyck’s.

The RCMP Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU) conducted a review of the videos of McLeod and Schmegelsky. BAU was concerned with a behaviour called "identification", which is considered a "warning behaviour" in the context of threat assessment. In that, the videos may influence or inspire other individuals to carry out a targeted act of violence, essentially creating copycat killers. In BAU's experience, those who commit mass casualty attacks are heavily inspired by previous attackers and their behaviours.

The BAU consulted with Dr. Reid Meloy, a forensic psychologist and a world leading expert in threat assessment and he agreed that the videos should not be released. His and others research has shown that those individuals who commit mass casualty attacks are often heavily inspired by previous attackers and their behaviours.

BAU believed that McLeod and Schmegelsky may have made the video recordings for notoriety and releasing them will be seen as an injustice to the victims and their families. In an effort to not sensationalize the actions of McLeod and Schmegelsky and to mitigate the potential of other individuals being inspired by McLeod and Schmegelsky to commit similar acts of violence, the videos will not be released to the public by the RCMP.
  

Conclusion

The Manitoba Medical Examiner completed the autopsies and confirmed that the two deceased males were McLeod and Schmegelsky and they died from gunshot wounds. Based on the autopsy findings, the firearms lab report, analysis of the scene and the content of the videos it is believed that McLeod shot Schmegelsky before shooting himself in a suicide pact.

Based on the firearms lab results, similar offence pattern, timelines of suspects and admissions from McLeod and Schmegelsky, no other suspects are responsible for the three homicides.

There were two SKS type firearms used in the offences, one of which has being identified as being purchased by McLeod on July 12, 2019 at the Cabela’s Store in Nanaimo, BC. The second is an older style SKS with numerous serial numbers indicating parts from different weapons were put together over the years. Investigators were unable to identify where this older SKS weapon or parts originated from.
 

View larger image: purchased SKS firearm

View larger image: Older style SKS firearm

Interviews of McLeod and Schmegelsky’s families, teachers and friends, seized evidence from search warrants and the six video recordings did not reveal their motivation for the murders. The investigative theory is that McLeod and Schmegelsky came across Fowler’s van and targeted Fowler and Deese for unknown reasons before continuing up into the Yukon. McLeod and Schmegelsky returned to BC because they were having vehicle issues and came across Dyck who they killed for unknown reasons. McLeod and Schmegelsky burned their vehicle to cover up evidence and delay police before stealing Dyck’s vehicle to facilitate further escape.

Over the course of the investigation and search for McLeod and Schmegelsky, the BC RCMP dedicated a large number of resources and specialized units to this large, complex and fast moving investigation. In BC, there were up to 160 police officers and employees working extended shifts on this investigation until McLeod and Schmegelsky were located deceased. The RCMP received over 1500 tips from the public through the dedicated phone tip line, reports to 9-1-1 call centres, front counter reports to police detachments and Crime Stoppers. Between July 16, 2019 and August 4, 2019, nineteen judicial authorizations were sought and granted to further the investigation. An extensive amount of CCTV video was collected during the investigation and 1000’s of hours were reviewed.

During the investigation a number of Partner Agencies were used to assist including but not limited to the United States of America and Australia Police Agencies, the BC Prosecution Service, the Canadian Border Services Agency, the Coroners Services in British Columbia and Manitoba, Conservation Officers, Search and Rescue and the Canadian Military.

The RCMP would like to thank all Canadians for their vigilance, partner agencies throughout Canada, the United States and Australia as well as the communities that were affected during the search.
 

Suspect Movement Maps

Map of suspect movements across Canada

View larger image: map of suspect movements across Canada

Map of suspect movements in British Columbia and Yukon

View larger image: map of suspects movements in British Columbia and Yukon

Follow Us:

bcrcmpnews

@bcrcmp

@bcrcmp