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Photo by Chynna Deese / The Associated Press

Lucas Fowler, 23, and Deese, 24, from North Carolina, were found shot to death at the side of Highway 97 in northern B.C. on the morning of July 15.

Their van is believed to have broken down the previous evening, several kilometres south of the Liard Hot Springs, with the couple turning down an offer to help fix the vehicle. According to reports, Fowler was confident he could deal with what he thought was an overheated engine.

On Monday, Mounties revealed Fowler was seen having a conversation on the evening of July 14 with a man police now want to speak with.

RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said that man was Caucasian, with darker skin and dark hair. Police made public a sketch of that person.

“There was a man who was seen speaking to Lucas Fowler,” Shoihet said. “He’s shorter than Lucas, who stood six-foot-three, and has a possible beard or glasses.” She said the man may be driving an older model Jeep Cherokee with a black stripe on the hood and a bull-bar.

Shoihet also revealed the RCMP were looking at possible links between the slaying of Fowler and Deese and another case 470 km to the west, on Highway 37.

Four days after Fowler and Deese were found dead, emergency services went to a vehicle fire 50 km south of Dease Lake.

While investigating the vehicle, additional information led police to discover a body at a highway pullout about two kilometres away. Police are looking for the two men from Port Alberni who were driving the burned vehicle — Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18 — who were travelling to visit Whitehorse to look for work.

Photo by Handout/RCMP

“We are looking into the possibility that they may be linked,” Shoihet said. “This is unusual, to have two major investigations of this nature in northern B.C. at the same time, so we recognize that these two investigations may be linked.”

She also issued a warning to travellers in the region, saying people should stick to campsites and keep family and friends posted on their whereabouts.

“We share the concerns that are being raised given the tragic and unusual nature of these two investigations that we have underway,” Shoihet said. “We would like to stress the importance of heightened vigilance and awareness for anyone travelling in and around that area.”