Manitoba RCMP searched through difficult terrain in northeastern stretches of the province to find the pair. (RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Canada-wide manhunt

Bodies of Port Alberni murder suspects recovered in Manitoba

Aug 7, 2019 | 5:08 AM

NANAIMO — The Canada-wide manhunt for two Port Alberni teens accused of murder is now over.

Manitoba RCMP Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy announced search teams found bodies believed to be Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, who recently turned 19, around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

MacLatchy said items recovered along the shoreline of the Nelson River on Friday, Aug. 2 proved to be the key item in narrowing down their search.

“Following this discovery, we were at last able to narrow down the search. We immediately sent in specialized RCMP teams to begin searching nearby high-probability areas.”

The bodies were found in dense brush within one kilometre of where the items were found.

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It’s unknown at this time what those items were.

McLeod and Schmegeslky were on the run for more than two weeks.

They were initially considered missing from northern BC while allegedly on a road trip to find work in Yukon.

Charges of second-degree murder were eventually laid in the death of Leonard Dyck, a 64-year-old University of British Columbia lecturer.

The pair were also suspects in the shooting death of an Australian tourist and his American girlfriend. The victims were gunned down along the Alaska Hwy. south of Liard Hot Springs on July 15.

Assistant Commissioner MacLatchy said the nightmare is over for affected families and communities ensnared in the Canada-wide manhunt.

“To the families of everyone affected by the series of events over the last few weeks, I know it has been so very difficult and I hope today’s announcement can begin to bring some closure.”

Autopsies are now being scheduled in Winnipeg to officially identify the recovered bodies believed to be McLeod and Schmegelsky and discover a cause of death.

MacLatchy said even without the autopsy she’s confident the bodies belong to the Port Alberni suspects.

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