UPDATE: Police have named the two missing teenagers as persons of interest in the deaths of three people found on northern B.C. highways. Read the update here. The original story from July 21 follows.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of the story said the burning vehicle was a van. In fact, the vehicle was a pickup truck with a sleeping camper.
Dease Lake RCMP are seeking two men believed to have been driving a vehicle later found on fire in northwestern B.C., and near which a body was found on Friday.
The burning vehicle was found south of the Stikine River Bridge on Highway 37, about 50 km south of Dease Lake. While investigating the vehicle, additional information led police to discover a body two kilometres away at a nearby highway pullout.
The investigation has since led to police identifying 19-year-old Kam McLeod and 18-year-old Bryer Schmegelsky from Port Alberni as the drivers of the vehicle.
They have not been heard from for the last few days.
In a statement, RCMP say McLeod and Schmegelsky were travelling through B.C. to visit Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory to look for work. They say it’s not clear why they returned to B.C., or what their travel plans may be.
“Kam and Bryer have periodically connected with family and friends over the past week, and it is possible that they are now in area without cell coverage,” Dawn Roberts of BC RCMP Communications said.
“However, we have found their vehicle, and have not been able to locate either of them at this time. We are asking for Kam or Bryer to connect with police right away and let us know you are OK. Or, we ask that anyone who may have spoken to or seen them over the last few days to call police so we can get a better understanding as to where they might be or their plans.”
Kam McLeod is described as:
- six-foot-four
- Approximately 169 pounds
- Dark brown hair and facial hair
- Brown eyes
Bryer Schmegelsky is described as:
- six-foot-four
- Approximately 169 pounds
- Sandy brown hair
They were last seen in Dease Lake on Thursday travelling in a red and grey Dodge pickup truck with a sleeping camper.
Police said they were still working to identify the male body that was found, determine the cause of death, and whether there was any connection with the two missing men. But they did confirm that the body they found was not that of either of the missing teens.
In the statement, RCMP said “there are growing community concerns about the ongoing homicide investigations in northern B.C.”
A double homicide currently under investigation by RCMP involving a young Australian man and American woman occurred between July 14-15 on the Alaskan Highway, about 470 kilometres away from the Dease Lake incident.
The statement goes on to say that “investigators are sharing information and police would like to ensure awareness around both investigations.”
Anyone with any information about Kam and Bryer is asked to please call Dease Lake RCMP 250-771-4111, Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or by leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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