Police are investigating the deaths of Chynna Noelle Deese and Lucas Robertson Fowler, whose bodies were found along the Alaska Highway on Monday.
The investigation into the couple’s death has been deemed a double homicide. Police discovered their bodies 20 km south of the Liard Hot Springs along the Alaska Highway on Monday morning.
The area is around 400 km southwest of the BC-NWT border, along the highway connecting Alaska, Yukon, and BC.
The West Australian has reported Fowler, who is the son of a senior Australian police officer, and Deese were shot.
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Sergeant Janelle Shoihet, from BC RCMP, told Cabin Radio by email the police service has not publicly confirmed the manner of death and is not likely to do so.
By identifying the victims, police hope to push the investigation into their deaths forward.
“In an effort to further the investigation and help determine a timeline leading up to their deaths, we are identifying the victims,” Sgt Shoihet stated in a news release on Friday.
While Fowler was Australian, police say Deese was from the United States.
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Lucas Robertson Fowler, left, and Chynna Noelle Deese are seen in an RCMP handout photo.
Fowler’s family members are now travelling to Canada to “be with our boy and bring him home,” they said in a statement shared by Australia’s New South Wales police force.
“To lose someone so young and vibrant, who was travelling the world and just enjoying life to the full, is devastating,” the family stated.
“To know his beautiful girlfriend, Chynna Deese of Charlotte, North Carolina also lost her life in this violent event is too cruel.”
In a news release, BC RCMP stated they believe the crime occurred between Sunday and Monday. Police want to speak with anyone who was in the area between Sunday at 4pm and Monday at 8am.
They are especially keen to speak to anyone who may have recorded a dashcam video while driving through the area, or anyone who may have “rendered assistance.”
Police also found an older, blue minivan with Alberta plates at the scene. Anyone who saw the minivan is asked to contact police.
Police are asking anyone with information to call the Northern Rockies RCMP at 250 774-2700 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477.
