Missing Canada teens now suspects in murder of tourists

Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 from Port Alberni, named as suspects in the murder of an Australian tourist and his American girlfriend in northern British Columbia, as well as an unidentified man whose body was found near the boys' abandoned flaming car, are seen in undated photos issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). BC RCMP/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

(Reuters) - Two teenagers, first categorized as missing in Canada, are now suspects in the murder of an Australian tourist, his American girlfriend and an unidentified man whose body was found near the teens' abandoned, flaming car, police said on Tuesday.

Lucas Fowler, 23, an Australian citizen, and Chynna Deese, 24, from Charlotte, North Carolina, were found shot dead on July 15 on a highway in northern British Columbia, 20 km (12 miles) from Liard Hot Springs.

Cpl Julie Courchaine, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), speaks to memberr of the media regarding the search for the suspects near Gillam, Manitoba, at the RCMP "D" Division Headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon VanRaes

Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, have been missing since July 19. Their car was found in flames about 500 km (310 miles) away from where Fowler and Deese were found dead, near Dease Lake, British Columbia.

The body of a man the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are still trying to identify was found 2 km (1.2 miles) from the abandoned car. It was not immediately clear to police whether the body was connected to the car and the missing teenagers, but the RCMP said they are now also considering McLeod and Schmegelsky as suspects in the man's murder.

McLeod and Schmegelsky were last seen in northern Saskatchewan, driving a grey 2011 Toyota RAV4, the RCMP said.

The RCMP “D” Division Headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon VanRaes

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) was interviewing Deese's mother, Sheila, when police announced that the teenagers were suspects and warned the public not to approach them, instead saying to call 911.

"I need for anyone with information to share that, because this can't happen to another family," the mother was quoted as saying.

"It shouldn't have happened to ours."

Cpl Julie Courchaine, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), speaks to members of the media regarding the search for the suspects near Gillam, Manitoba, at the RCMP "D" Division Headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon VanRaes

Police have cited the vastness of the area in question, as well as its remoteness, as factors complicating their investigation.

It is not known if McLeod and Schmegelsky are armed, or what their motives may be. The ABC said Deese was due home on July 31, with the day marked "Chynna returns" in the calendar by the kitchen at the family's North Carolina home.

"I don't know what I'm going to do on July 31," Sheila told the network. "Chynna was a sunflower. Strong and tall and beautiful."

The RCMP "D" Division Headquarters emblem in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon VanRaes

(Reporting by Moira Warburton in Toronto, additional reporting by Tom Westbrook in Sydney; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

The RCMP "D" Division Headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon VanRaes

The RCMP "D" Division Headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon VanRaes

Cpl. Julie Courchaine, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), speaks to members of the media regarding the search for the suspects near Gillam, Manitoba, at the RCMP "D" Division Headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon VanRaes

Chynna Deese, 24, from Charlotte, North Carolina and her boyfriend Lucas Fowler, 23, from Sydney, Australia, who were found dead from gunfire July 15, 2019 in northern British Columbia, are seen in undated photos issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). BC RCMP/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Chynna Deese, 24, from Charlotte, North Carolina and her boyfriend Lucas Fowler, 23, from Sydney, Australia, who were found dead from gunfire July 15, 2019 in northern British Columbia, are seen in a still image from video taken at a gas station in Fort Nelson on July 13, 2019 and issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). BC RCMP/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 from Port Alberni, named as suspects in the murder of an Australian tourist and his American girlfriend in northern British Columbia, as well as an unidentified man whose body was found near the boys' abandoned flaming car, are seen in undated CCTV footage on a public alert issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) July 23, 2019. BC RCMP/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Chynna Deese, 24, from Charlotte, North Carolina and her boyfriend Lucas Fowler, 23, from Sydney, Australia, who were found dead from gunfire July 15, 2019 in northern British Columbia, are seen in a still image from video taken at a gas station in Fort Nelson on July 13, 2019 and issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). BC RCMP/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

A police artist's sketch of a man who was found dead near Dease Lake, British Columbia on July 19, 2019 is seen as part of a request for information from the public on his identity by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). BC RCMP/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

A grey 2011 Toyota Rav 4 which police say is being driven by Kam McLeod, 19 and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 from Port Alberni, named as suspects in the murder of an Australian tourist and his American girlfriend in northern British Columbia, as well as an unidentified man whose body was found near the boys' abandoned flaming car, is seen in a still image from video issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) July 23, 2019. BC RCMP/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

FILE PHOTO: A blue 1986 Chevrolet van bearing Alberta licence plates is seen in an undated photo provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at the site of a double homicide where Chynna Noelle Deese, 24, of the United States and Lucas Robertson Fowler, 23 of Australia were found dead near Liard Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada. RCMP/Handout via REUTERS