Police confirm photo being shared online is not BC man wanted for murder

While a photo of a person who looks strikingly similar to BC fugitive Kam McLeod is making the rounds online, police said it’s not who they’re looking for.

See also:

• UBC community ‘shocked’ after botany lecturer murdered in Northern BC
• Teens charged with murder in Northern BC as cross-country manhunt intensifies
• 2 missing teens now considered suspects in 3 Northern BC deaths
• Young couple found in BC died from gunshot wounds: RCMP 

The photo shows a man smiling while holding a copy of a Winnipeg newspaper in his hand, which features the photos of McLeod 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18.

Both McLeod and Schmegelsky are each facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of Vancouver resident, Leonard Dyck, whose body was found near a burnt-out pickup truck, close to Dease Lake, BC, last week.

They are also suspects in the deaths of 24-year-old Chynna Noelle Deese and 23-year-old Lucas Robertson Fowler.

We can confirm that the current photo circulating online of a man posing with the front page of yesterday’s paper IS NOT one of our suspects. #rcmpmb

— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) July 26, 2019

Confirmed sightings

In an update on Thursday, Cpl. Julie Courchaine with the Manitoba RCMP said there have been two “established and corroborated sightings” of McLeod and Schmegelsky in the Gillam, Manitoba area.

“These sightings were prior to the discovery of the burnt-out vehicle,” Courchaine said, referring to the RAV4 the pair were travelling in, which was recovered on fire in the Gillam area in the Northern part of the province in the evening of July 22.

Courchaine said that there also have been no recent reports of stolen vehicles that could be attributed to McLeod and Schmegelsky, leading police to believe they are still near Gillum.

Manitoba RCMP has called in multiple resources to search for the wanted teens, including the emergency response team, the crisis negation team, police dog services, and air services assets. Out of province RCMP officers have also been brought in to help with the investigation.

Courchaine said the area being searched is “very challenging terrain.”

“This is a large area. There’s lots of dense bush, forests, swampy areas, so it is very challenging.”

Canada-wide warrants have been issued for McLeod and Schmegelsky.

Kam McLeod is described as:

• 6 foot 4
• Approximately 169 pounds
• Dark brown hair and facial hair
• Brown eyes

Bryer Schmegelsky is described as:

• 6 foot 4
• Approximately 169 pounds
• Sandy brown hair

The BC RCMP Major Crime tiplines remain open in support of the Leonard Dyck, Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese homicide investigations. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-877-543-4822 or 778-290-5291.

Anyone who sees McLeod or Schmegelsky is instructed to call 911 immediately.

With files from Simran Singh