RCMP withdraw from York Landing, focus search for B.C. fugitives elsewhere

Police withdrew from York Landing on Tuesday morning, as the odds of finding two B.C. fugitives in the remote northern Manitoba community grows bleaker.

RCMP and their military support will remain in the area, which is the last known place of Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky.

Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky remain on the loose seven days after they were declared homicide suspects. (RCMP)

The Port Alberni duo have been charged in the death of University of B.C. lecturer Leonard Dyck near Dease Lake on July 19. Their burned-out car was found a couple kilometres away from Dyck’s body.

McLeod and Schmegelsky also also suspects in the double homicide of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese, two young tourists found shot to death near Liard Hot Springs on July 15.

The have been spotted in Meadow Lake, Sask., and Split Lake, Man., and most recently dumped their car near the rural community of Gillam, Man.

Authorities were unable to substantiate a tip of the two being in York Landing on Sunday, despite a full-scale search of the town and the surrounding area.

RCMP continue to search “high-probability areas” around Gillam, where they’ve gone to more than 500 homes. The roadblock on the road leading in and out of the community has been removed.

Police said they’ve received more than 260 tips and although none have established that McLeod and Schmegelsky are not in Gillam, they say someone could have “inadvertently” helped the fugitives leave because the men may have changed their appearance.

RCMP resources remain in the Gillam area and will continue to conduct searches in high probability areas for any signs of the suspects. The search of remote areas is being conducted both on foot and in the air. #rcmpmb pic.twitter.com/3QCPrQ4Tpw

— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) July 30, 2019