RCMP will go door-to-door seeking information in Gillam and Fox Lake Cree Nation over the weekend and are asking anyone who may have inadvertently helped B.C. homicide suspects Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, get away to contact them with information.
“Officers have conducted and continue to search high probability areas of interest in the Gillam area,” said Manitoba RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Julie Courchaine at a July 26 press conference. “Investigators continue to follow up on tips, review the physical and digital evidence collected, and share information with police forces across Canada.”
McLeod and Schmegelsky are wanted in connection with the killings of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese, found dead on the Alaska Highway in B.C. July 15, and have been charged with second-degree murder in the death Leonard Dyck of Vancouver, whose body was found south of Dease Lake, B.C. July 19. Dyck’s body was discovered about two kilometres from a burnt-out camper truck that McLeod and Schmegelsky had been driving when they left Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, ostensibly on the way to Alberta to look for work. Manitoba RCMP said July 25 that they believe McLeod and Schmegelsky are still in the Gillam area, based upon two confirmed sightings prior to the pair’s burnt vehicle being discovered in the area July 22 and the fact that no vehicles in the area have been reported stolen.
Courchaine also said that while the search for McLeod and Schmegelsky remains centred in Gillam, that police are not discounting the possibility the two may no longer be in the area, since there have been no new confirmed sightings in the past four days.
“Our investigators are also exploring the possibility that the suspects may have inadvertently received assistance in leaving the area,” Courchaine said. “To restate, there have been no confirmed sightings outside of the Gillam area, however we remain open to the possibility.”
The suspects may have changed their appearance, police say.
Possible leads concerning McLeod’s and Schemgelsky’s whereabouts continue to come in.
“We have received, I think, over 120 tips in the last few days and we’re going through all those as well,” Courchaine said. “Our investigative team is going through them and as soon as we can confirm at one of them is accurate and that we can tell you we are going to tell you. We need the public’s help.”
The door-to-door canvassing is being done in hopes of uncovering some information that may seem unimportant to the person who has it but means something to police.
Officers have also been searching nearby abandoned buildings.
“We have been all around those areas and searching some of those abandoned and vacant outbuildings that do belong to [Manitoba] Hydro,” said Courchaine, adding that more press conferences would be held over the weekend if there is any new information to pass along.
“As soon as we have more information we will be back to share that with you,” said Courchaine. “I think we all want the same thing. We want to find these suspects so we are working hard to do that as quick as we can.”
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), a political advocacy organization that represents about two dozen First Nations in Northern Manitoba, says the current situation shows the First Nations need funding to be able to provide their own policing services.
“Our thoughts are with the citizens of Fox Lake Cree Nation this week,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee in a July 26 press release. “We are praying for the safety of our northern residents while this search is underway, and we hope there is a safe outcome for the people living in the community as well as the personnel carrying out the search. We commend Fox Lake citizens, such as Billy Beardy, who are taking it upon themselves to carry out safety patrols for their communities. While we appreciate the support of the RCMP during this time, it’s important to remind both the federal and provincial governments that the safety of our citizens is an ongoing concern for us. We urge governments to engage with MKO to explore avenues for proper policing services for MKO First Nations so our communities are better able to take leadership when it comes to emergencies in our communities.”
RCMP said checkstops at the intersection of Provincial Road 280 and Provincial Road 290 to Fox Lake and Gillam, respectively, will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
The search is being assisted by the RCMP’s emergency response team, crisis negotiation team and air services assets, as well as the major crime unit, the RCMP North District and RCMP officers from other provinces.
Anyone who spots McLeod and Schmegelsky should call Gillam RCMP at 204-652-2200, Thompson RCMP at 2-04-677-6911 or 911 or their local police in other areas.
