MANITOBA – An autopsy on the bodies of Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky show that the two men who were the focus of a nationwide manhunt died by suicide.

The Manitoba Medical Examiner completed the autopsies on two bodies located in Manitoba on Aug. 7, and both confirmed their identities and that the two died in suicides by gunfire.

RCMP say the next of kin have been notified and they have been offered support.

"While both individuals were deceased for a number of days before they were found, the exact time and date of their deaths are not known," reads an RCMP press release distributed today, Aug. 12. .

"However, there are strong indications that they had been alive for a few days since last seen in July and during the extensive search efforts in the Gillam area."

Police said that two firearms were also located with the two deceased teens and forensic analysis is underway in order to definitively confirm that these weapons are connected with the northern B.C. homicide investigations.

The Manitoba RCMP have completed their search of the area where the bodies were discovered, approximately eight km from where Leonard Dyck’s burnt RAV4 was located on July 22.

Investigators are now assessing all items located in Manitoba, along with the previous findings related to the three northern B.C. homicide investigations, in order to gain more clarity into what happened to Leonard Dyck, Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese. The assessment will review all the investigative findings to date, whether it is statements, evidentiary time lines, physical or digital evidence, and the BC RCMP have also have engaged our Behavioural Analysis Unit (BAU).

The BC RCMP says once they have completed that review within the next few weeks, they will be providing the families with an update with respect to the totality of the investigations and then releasing the information publicly.

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