'Challenging terrain': Canadian manhunt for teens narrows in Lucas Fowler murder case
New York: Canadian police have confirmed two sightings of the teenage fugitives who allegedly killed Australian Lucas Fowler and his American girlfriend, leading them to believe they are camped out in the woods.
Police have blockaded the roads in Gillam, a town of 1265 people in Manitoba province, and are using sniffer dogs and a drone to help find the suspected killers Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky.
It is believed they could be hiding from authorities in the rugged mosquito-infested forrest area where bears and wolves also live.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spokeswoman Julie Courchaine said the suspects were most recently seen on Monday local time. The burnt-out van they had been driving was discovered earlier in the week and there have not been any reports of stolen vehicles near Gillam.
"At this point in the investigation we believe they are still in the area," Courchaine told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.
"This is very challenging terrain. This is a large area. There is lots of dense bush, forrest, swampy area so it is very challenging."
Police said they had received approximately 80 tips from the public about the suspects and more information was coming in.
Police allege that McLeod and Schmegelsky killed Fowler, 23 and his girlfriend Chynna Deese, 24, as well as Vancouver man Leonard Dyck.
They have charged the suspects with Dyck's murder but not those of Fowler and Deese.
More to come