Deaths of Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky ruled suicides

The RCMP say two British Columbia men who led police on a cross-Canada manhunt died by what appears to be suicide by gunfire.

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The bodies of two men found in northern Manitoba last week have been confirmed as B.C. murder suspects Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky, and police say the pair took their own lives.

B.C. RCMP confirms the two murder suspects died of self-inflicted gunshots and two firearms were found with their bodies. Investigators are still working to confirm if the guns were used in the deaths.

The bodies were found in dense brush approximately eight kilometres from where a burnt-out stolen RAV4 was located outside Gillam, Man.

Police believe McLeod, 19, and Schmegelsky, 18, were dead for several days before they were found. However, the exact time and date of their deaths are not known. It is believed they were alive for several days after they were last seen on July 22 and the manhunt ramped up around Gillam.

McLeod and Schmegelsky were charged with second-degree murder in the death of University of British Columbia botany lecturer Leonard Dyck whose body was found on July 19 just south of Dease Lake. They were also suspects in the deaths of tourist couple Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese, whose bodies were found July 15 south of Liard Hot Springs.

Investigators are continuing their assessment of all evidence found in Manitoba as well as findings from northern B.C. in order to determine what happened to all three victims.

The RCMP says its review will be completed over the next few weeks and families will be updated before the information is released to the public.

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