The teenagers suspected of murdering Australian man Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend Chynna Deese have been formally charged for the murder of a third man from Vancouver.

Key points: Canadian police have tracked the wanted teenagers down to a rural Manitoba town called Gillam

Canadian police have tracked the wanted teenagers down to a rural Manitoba town called Gillam The town mayor said Gillam had "only one way in and one way out by road"

The town mayor said Gillam had "only one way in and one way out by road" Bryer Schmegelsky's father said his son was in pain following his parents' separation

Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, and Kam McLeod, 19, are being hunted by Canadian police in connection with the shooting deaths of Mr Fowler — son of NSW Police Chief Inspector Stephen Fowler — and Ms Deese.

On Thursday the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) charged the pair with second-degree murder over the death of Leonard Dyck, 64, whose body was found two kilometres from their burnt out pickup truck on July 19.

Mr Schmegelsky and Mr McLeod were initially thought to be missing but police confirmed on Wednesday they were suspected of murdering Mr Lucas and Ms Deese, who were found shot dead next to their blue minivan in British Columbia on July 15.

A country-wide warrant has now been issued for their arrest.

Leonard Dyck was found dead not far from the suspects' burnt-out pickup truck. ( Supplied )

The hunt for the teenage fugitives has shifted around 2,000 kilometres east to rural Manitoba, with police reinforcements being sent in after the car the pair drove from British Columbia was found abandoned and on fire outside the small town of Gillam.

Bryer Schmegelsky's father, Alan Schmegelsky, told Canadian media his son had a troubled upbringing and was now "on a suicide mission".

Mr Schmegelsky said he and his wife had separated when their son was five and the boy had filled his time playing video games and watching videos on YouTube.

He said he expected his son to die in a confrontation with police.

"They're going out in a blaze of glory — trust me on this," Mr Schmegelsky said.



"Bryer. I love you. I'm so sorry all this had to happen."

Alan Schmegelsky and his wife separated when Bryer was a child. ( Facebook: Supplied )

The teenagers are childhood friends from Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island and it is believed the two were travelling through British Columbia looking for work when they were considered missing.

Mr Schmegelsky told media earlier this week the duo had been working night shifts at Walmart in Port Alberni to save money for the trip.

'Only one way in and out'

Lucas Fowler and his girlfriend Chynna Deese were found dead in British Columbia. ( Supplied: NSW Police )

During a media conference early on Thursday morning (AEST), RCMP Corporal Julie Courchaine confirmed a grey 2011 Toyota RAV4 the pair had travelled in was found burning just outside Gillam.

"We can now confirm that this is the vehicle that the suspects were travelling in," she said.

"Based on this information we have sent a number of resources to the Gillam area. There will be a heavier police presence in the community."

Gillam, a town of 1,300 people on the Nelson River in north-east Manitoba, is surrounded by thousands of hectares of forest wilderness.

Mayor Dwayne Forman describes the town as being at "the end of the road".

"There's only one way in and one way out by road," Mr Forman said.

"We're as far as you can go north before you have to get on the train.

Mr Forman said local residents had "mixed emotions" as police converged on the area and established checkpoints.

"A lot less people [are] walking around the streets right now — a lot of the children, and some of the adults are afraid," he said.

"[Police] haven't told us much … we're unsure what's going on and whether they are in the area or not."

Mr Forman said there were thousands of hectares of wilderness and forest where a pair could hide, adding that the summer weather would have also helped.

'They know how to hide'

A day before the pair were named as suspects in a double homicide, Mr Schmegelsky told CHEK News they considered themselves survivalists.

"[They] liked to go into the woods and play war," he said.

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"If there's any hope that Bryer and Kam are alive, it's because they … would have gone into the woods and they know how to hide, because they've been doing this for the last two-and-a-half years."

In a photo released by the RCMP yesterday, the two were seen leaving a store in northern Saskatchewan. Bryer Schmegelsky was seen wearing green camouflage.

The ABC understands the photo was taken on Sunday, outside a grocer connected to a hardware store in Meadow Lake, about 900 kilometres from Gillam.

Government and travel guides for the wilderness surrounding Gillam describe the region as home to a rugged landscape.

An official survival guide released by Manitoba Search and Rescue recommends to "Always travel with a friend, and stay together".

The Gillam Mayor said while it was clear skies above the town, it was also when the sand flies were beginning to hatch.

"Theoretically they could hide in the area," Mr Forman said.

"But the bugs are horrendous here."