Father: Nationwide Canada manhunt will end in son's death

TORONTO — TORONTO (AP) - The father of one of the suspects in the murders of an American woman and her Australian boyfriend as well as the death of another man said Wednesday he expects a nationwide manhunt to end in the death of his son, who is on "a suicide mission."

The grim prediction came as Canadian police said they were setting up roadblocks around the remote Manitoba town of Gillam, where the two young suspects, 19-year-old Kam McLeod and 18-year-old Bryer Schmegelsky, recently left a burnt-out vehicle they had been traveling in.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Julie Courchaine said police "are coming from all over" to Gillam, which is more than 2,000 miles away from a region in northern British Columbia where an initial burnt-out vehicle was found last Friday and the three people were apparently killed.

Police initially called the search for McLeod and Schmegelsky a missing persons case. But on Tuesday police announced the young men were suspects in the murders of 24-year-old American Chynna Deese, of Charlotte, and 23-year-old Australian Lucas Fowler, and in the death of another unidentified man.

Schmegelsky's father, Alan Schmegelsky, said Wednesday his son had a troubled upbringing and is in "very serious pain." His son struggled through his parents' acrimonious split in 2005 and his main influences became video games and YouTube, he said.

"A normal child doesn't travel across the country killing people. A child in some very serious pain does," Schmegelsky told Canadian Press in an interview. Alan Schmegelsky said he expects his son will die in a confrontation with police.

"He's on a suicide mission. He wants his pain to end," he said, breaking down into tears. "Basically, he's going to be dead today or tomorrow. I know that. Rest in peace, Bryer. I love you. I'm so sorry all this had to happen."

Even if his son is caught, his life will be over, the father said. "He wants his hurt to end. They're going to go out in a blaze of glory. Trust me on this."

The separate discoveries of three bodies and a burning car with missing occupants shook rural northern British Columbia.

During the investigation of the first burnt out car last Friday, police found the body of 64-year-old Leonard Dyck, of Vancouver, roughly a mile from the car.

(Dyck)

It's about 300 miles along remote highways from the spot where Deese and Fowler were found shot dead over a week ago.

Police had said on Tuesday that McLeod and Schmegelsky were traveling in northern Saskatchewan in a grey 2011 Toyota Rav 4. The Toyota Rav 4 is the car found burned in Gillam. Authorities in the neighboring province of Ontario are now warning the public about the suspects.

Residents of Gillam are locking their doors and cars. Deputy Mayor John McDonald said if McLeod and Schmegelsky are wandering around in the bush, they couldn't have picked a worse time.

"The sandflies came out three days ago and they're just voracious," he said. "I'm quite sure they'll be more than happy to have someone find them."

The suspects are considered dangerous and police urged the public not to approach them and to call 911. On Tuesday, police released surveillance photos of the two in Saskatchewan.

That first burned vehicle found in northern British Columbia belonged to McLeod and Schmegelsky, both of Port Alberni, British Columbia.

Police had said Monday the two were traveling to Whitehorse in the Yukon to look for work and had not been in contact with their families for the past few days.

Fowler and Deese were found shot dead along the Alaska Highway near Liard Hot Springs, British Columbia.

Fowler, the son of a chief inspector with the New South Wales Police Department, was living in British Columbia and Deese was visiting him.

The couple had met at a hostel in Croatia and their romance blossomed as they adventured across the U.S., Mexico, Peru and elsewhere, the woman's older brother said.

British Deese said the couple was on a trip to visit Canadian national parks when they were killed. He said the family believes they must have had engine trouble in their van.

Deese's family and friends will honor her life on Saturday at 2 p.m. Memorial service will be held at New City Church in Southpark.

Associated Press