Update August 12, 2019, 2:14 p.m: Autopsy results confirm that the bodies found on August 7 are those of suspects Bryer Schmegelsky and Kam McLeod. While the exact time and date of death are still unknown, the report confirms the two died of apparent suicide “a number of days” before the bodies were uncovered by the RCMP.
The bodies of two young men charged with the second-degree murder of UBC botany lecturer Leonard Dyck are believed to have been found in northern Manitoba on the morning of August 7.
Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, and Kam McLeod, 19, were on the run after being considered suspects in three Northern BC murders in mid-July. Besides Dyck, victims included the young couple Lucas Fowler, 23, and Chynna Deese, 24, who were travelling together.
Schmegelsky and McLeod’s bodies were found in dense brush about one km away from the Nelson River, where several items that belonged to them were found on August 2, including a damaged aluminum boat.
This is the damaged aluminum boat found by #rcmpmb officers on the shores of the Nelson River during a helicopter search on friday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/56Ez8alVTs
— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) August 4, 2019
After the killings, Schmegelsky and McLeod moved east. Before their bodies were found, they were last seen in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan and a burning car they are believed to have been driving was found near Gillam, Manitoba on July 22.
Until today, the RCMP had been conducting a far-reaching manhunt throughout northern Manitoba for the suspects.
No new sightings of suspects. Officers are searching cottages, cabins, waterways, & along the rail line for any signs of the suspects. This search of remote areas is being conducted both on foot & in the air. The terrain is immense & varied w/lakes, ponds, muskeg etc. #rcmpmb pic.twitter.com/9xp5eg8GnI
— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) July 28, 2019
Moving forward, there will still be an autopsy in Winnipeg to “confirm [the bodies’] identities and to determine their cause of death.” The motives for the alleged murders also have yet to be determined.
The RCMP thanked their partners and the public for their cooperation throughout the investigation.
“... it was a search that could only be successful if we had strong public engagement and support. Thank you to all Canadians for remaining vigilant, for calling us with information and most importantly, for being our partners,” reads a RCMP news release.