Canadian police find items linked to fugitive teens

Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Police in Manitoba, Canada, said Tuesday that they recovered items "directly linked" to two teenage fugitives suspected in the deaths of three people.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said investigators found the items Friday on the shoreline of the Nelson River about 5.5 miles from a burnt vehicle the suspects -- Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 -- used.

"RCMP have confirmed that these items are directly linked to the suspects," a statement from investigators said. "That same day, a damaged boat was also found along the Nelson River."

The discovery of the items prompted the RCMP to conduct an underwater search near the area. Five underwater dive team members completed their search of the river Monday.

The RCMP said it "will not be conducting any additional dives."

It said a roadblock would be in place in Sundance, some 35 miles up the Nelson River from Gillam, where RCMP descended upon late last month after a vehicle believed to have been in the teens' possession was found burnt and discarded in the area.

The boat's discovery came as RCMP was scaling back operations after coming up empty-handed in its search of the Gillam area that began July 23.

A manhunt in western Canada has been underway for the two teenagers since they were charged with second-degree murder on July 24 for the death of 65-year-old Leonard Dyck, who was found dead in British Columbia.

The teens are also being sought, though no charges have been laid, in connection to the deaths of American Chynna Noelle Deese, 24, and her Australian boyfriend, Lucas Robertson Fowler, 23, who were found shot to death along a British Columbia highway, some 300 miles from where Dyck was discovered.