Two bodies believed to be British Columbia murder suspects who were the focus of a massive manhunt have been found in dense brush in northern Manitoba.

R-C-M-P assistant commissioner Jane MacLatchy says the bodies were found this morning near the shoreline of the Nelson River — within a kilometre from where several items linked to the two young men were found last week.

MacLatchy told a Winnipeg news conference that over the last two weeks, our officers have worked tirelessly to find the suspects.

She says while there were no confirmed sightings since July 22nd, Mounties never gave up in their search efforts — following-up on every lead, considering all options, and using every available resource.

Nineteen-year-old Kam McLeod and 18-year-old Bryer Schmegelsky of Port Alberni were facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of Leonard Dyck, a university lecturer from Vancouver.

Dyck’s body was discovered along a highway pullout two kilometres south of Dease Lake, B-C on July 19th.

McLeod and Schmegelsky were also suspects in the shooting deaths of American tourist Chynna Deese and her Australian boyfriend, Lucas Fowler.

Their bodies were found along a highway near B-C’s Liard Hot Springs on July 15th.

Police initially treated McLeod and Schmegelsky as missing when their charred vehicle was found not far from Dyck’s body, but investigators later deemed them to be suspects after they were spotted in northern Saskatchewan.

The manhunt stretched into northern Manitoba when a second burned-out vehicle used by the pair was found July 23rd near the town of Gillam.

MacLatchy said their bodies were about eight kilometres from where that vehicle — a Toyota RAV4 — was located.

While she says they are confident these are the bodies of the two suspects, autopsies will be done in Winnipeg to confirm their identities and to determine cause of death.

Here is a look at the three homicide victims:

CHYNNA DEESE

The 24-year-old from Charlotte, N.C., was travelling in Canada with her Australian boyfriend, Lucas Fowler, when she died.

An online obituary about her says she is survived by her mother, father and seven siblings.

“Chynna was a loving free spirit who travelled the world; she had a genuine passion for the well-being of all people,” her obituary reads.

“She always had a positive outlook on life and she unfailingly brought joy to all that came in contact with her.”

A private celebration of her life was July 27 in North Carolina.

LUCAS FOWLER

The father of the 23-year-old from Sydney, Australia, has said his son was having the time of his life and the family was overjoyed when he met Deese.

Chief Insp. Stephen Fowler of the New South Wales Police Force told media last month that their deaths marked a tragic end to a love story.

His father said his son had saved up his money after working in Sydney so he could travel to B.C. and join Deese there.

“Our son Lucas was having the time of his life travelling the world,” Stephen Fowler said.

“He met a beautiful young lady and they teamed up, were a great pair and they fell in love.”

LEONARD DYCK

The 64-year-old University of British Columbia lecturer, affectionately known as Len, has been described as someone who loved his work.

Patrick Martone, a professor in UBC’s botany department, said last month that Dyck’s gruff exterior belied a natural curiosity and enthusiasm.

“His passion for learning about bizarre and beautiful organisms that few people ever get to see inspired our students to feel that same passion and awe,” Martone said.

Dyck began working for the university as a sessional lecturer in 2003 and completed his PhD the next year.

His behind-the-scenes efforts in the department, his field collections and his work with students in the classroom make him irreplaceable, Matrone said.

“He held his cards close to his chest, but as soon as you realized how much passion he had for his work, he was so much fun and a joy to be around.”

(The Canadian Press)