RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance to locate 19-year-old Kam McLeod and 18-year-old Bryer Schmegelsky from Port Alberni in Dease Lake investigation.

On July 19, the Dease Lake RCMP responded to a vehicle fire south
of Stikine River Bridge on Highway 37.  While investigating the vehicle
additional information led police to discover a body at a nearby highway
pullout. 

As a result of the ongoing investigative efforts, police are now
seeking the public’s assistance in locating the two young men who were
driving the vehicle and are missing.   

McLeod and Schmegelsky have not been in contact with their family for the last few days and were driving the vehicle found on fire 50 km south of Dease Lake. 

McLeod and Schmegelsky were travelling through BC to visit Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory to look for work.  It is not clear why they returned to
BC and 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”, says Dawn Roberts, BC RCMP Communications. 
“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 okay.  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.”

McLeod is described as:
●       6 foot 4
●       Approximately 169 pounds
●       Dark brown hair and facial hair
●       Brown eyes

Schmegelsky is described as:
●       6 foot 4
●       Approximately 169 pounds
●       Sandy brown hair

The two were travelling in a red and grey Dodge pickup truck with a
sleeping camper and BC License plate LW6433.  They were last seen
travelling south from the Super A general store in Dease Lake at around
3:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 18.  

Police can also confirm that the deceased person located about 2 kms
away from the vehicle fire is not McLeod and Schmegelsky, but is believed to be a male that they are working to identify.  It is unclear at this time how
this deceased male might be connected with vehicle fire or the two
missing men. 

RCMP acknowledge there are growing community concerns about the
ongoing homicide investigations in northern BC.  The Dease Lake incident
occurred on July 19 and the other incident – in which the bodies of Chynna Noelle Deese, 24, of the United States and Lucas Robertson Fowler, 23, of Australia were found south of Liard Hot Springs on Monday – occurred between July 14 and 15, approximately 470 kilometres away.

At this time, investigators are sharing information and police would
like to ensure awareness around both investigations. The RCMP would ask
the public to continue to take any general safety precautions and remain
vigilant at this time.  They also remind travellers to share their plans
with family and friends, establish check-in times and notify someone if
their plans change.

Anyone with any information about McLeod and Schmegelsky is asked to call Dease Lake RCMP at 250-771-4111, CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net