The search for two teenagers accused of killing Australian tourist Lucas Fowler and his US girlfriend Chynna Deese has moved to the eastern Canadian province of Ontario.
The Ontario Provincial Police announced on Friday it has set up an investigative team headed by a senior detective to follow up on potential sightings of Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, and Kam McLeod, 19.
‘The OPP is following up on every tip it receives,’ OPP Sergeant Carolle Dionne said.
‘Yesterday alone we received over 30 tips in less than eight hours.
‘We ask anyone who believes they have observed these two suspects to report it to police immediately.’
The search for two teenagers accused of killing Australian tourist Lucas Fowler (left) and US girlfriend Chynna Deese (right) has moved to the eastern Canadian province of Ontario
The Ontario Provincial Police announced on Friday it has set up an investigative team headed by a senior detective to follow up on potential sightings of Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, and Kam McLeod, 19
If the fugitives are in Ontario they have eluded authorities while travelling more than 5000km. That’s 1000km further than the distance between Sydney and Perth.
One unconfirmed sighting of the duo in recent days was of ‘a suspicious’ white vehicle driving through a construction zone on a highway in the small community of Kapuskasing, Ontario.
OPP Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Inspector Matt Watson will lead the new investigative team.
The crime spree began on July 14 in the western province of British Columbia when the bodies of Mr Fowler, 23, from Sydney, and his North Carolina girlfriend Chynna Deese, 24, were found shot dead on the side of a highway.
Four days later on another BC highway the teenagers allegedly murdered botanist Leonard Dyck and then drove 3000km east across Canada’s north to the tiny town of Gillam, Manitoba.
On July 23 their stolen Toyota RAV4 was dumped outside of Gillam and set on fire.
There have been no confirmed sightings of the duo since.
Kapuskasing is 2360km southeast of Gillam.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Royal Canadian Air Force, using teams on the ground and planes in the air with infrared cameras and imaging radar, unsuccessfully searched 11,000 square kilometres around the town of Gillam and surrounding wilderness before scaling back the hunt.
The RCMP and OPP have urged members of the public to call them immediately to report a possible sighting instead of posting information on social media.
Sheila was first introduced to Lucas during Christmas last year after the pair met at a hostel in Croatia
Police and others have spent the past nine days searching for Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, in a remote and rugged part of northern Manitoba
If the suspects are spotted, authorities urged the public to take note of every detail.
‘Sharing as much information as possible on your observation is important such as type of vehicle, vehicle plate, description of clothing, direction of travel,’ Sgt Dionne said.
‘But most importantly, do not approach them as they are considered to be dangerous.’
The latest development in the search comes after a funeral service was held to farewell Mr Fowler and his girlfriend in Sydney’s north on Friday.
His father and New South Wales Police Chief Inspector Stephen Fowler focused on the young couple’s joyful love affair, and spoke admiringly of his son’s achievements in life – most of all, Ms Deese.
‘(A Canadian ranch owner) said that every now and then she’d look up and see Chynna had walked over to Lucas and given him a hug or just a look,’ Mr Fowler said.
‘They were full of happiness and joy just being together.’
A composed and reflective Inspector Fowler praised his son, an apprentice mechanic, for turning his dream of travelling around the world into reality.
He met his girlfriend Chynna in Croatia but kept it from his parents for some time – largely because his mother had warned him not to run off with ‘foreign girls’.
‘The day she stole Lucas’s heart she became part of her family,’ Mr Fowler said. ‘We were so happy he had met a life partner,’ Mr Fowler said.
Hand in hand: The parents of Lucas Fowler, NSW Police chief inspector Stephen Fowler and wife Shanaugh, at the memorial service on Friday