A bearded man driving a Jeep Cherokee has emerged as the key to solving the shooting murders of Australian tourist Lucas Fowler, his American girlfriend Chynna Deese and potentially another grisly murder.
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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police released a sketch on Monday of the man who was seen by a passerby talking to Mr Fowler on a remote highway in northern British Columbia a week ago.
Mr Fowler, 23, from Sydney, and Ms Deese, 24, from North Carolina, were stranded on the highway after their blue 1986 Chevrolet van broke down on the afternoon of July 14.
They were found dead in a ditch the next day.
The RCMP raised fears the couple may be victims of a murderous crime spree in northern BC by declaring it was possible the killings are linked to the discovery on Friday of another dead man, two missing teenagers and a torched Dodge pickup truck.
"It's possible," RCMP Corporal Chris Manseau told reporters.
"We have two complex and dynamic ongoing investigations that are happening in northern BC."
The man who was seen talking to Mr Fowler was described "as Caucasian with darker skin and dark hair".
His Jeep has black pinstriped on the bonnet.
"He's shorter than Lucas who stood six foot three (190cm) and has a possible beard or glasses," RCMP Sergeant Janelle Shoihet.
The RCMP also released video of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese stopping for fuel at a petrol station at Fort Nelson, BC, the day before their murders in the hope it encourages members of the public to come forward with information.
The video depicts how in love the couple is, with Mr Fowler and Ms Deese engaging in an affectionate hug after filling up their van.
The RCMP originally played down speculation of a serial killer or crime spree linking the murders of Mr Fowler and Ms Deese to Friday's discovery 470km away of the body, missing teenagers and the burning Dodge pickup.
"We just know more about both incidents," said Corporal Manseau, explaining the alarming change.
The two missing teenagers are 19-year-old Kam McLeod and 18-year-old Bryer Schmegelsky from Port Alberni, BC.
The RCMP said Mr McLeod and Mr Schmegelsky were driving the Dodge pickup but have not been in contact with their family for the last few days.
Sgt Shoihet said investigators are not treating the teens as suspects but want them to contact authorities.
"We're hopeful they're alive," Sgt Shoihet said.
The body found two kilometres from their pickup was not one of the teens, but a bearded man aged 50 to 60-years-old.
The RCMP have been unable to identify the dead man and also released his sketch.
Mr Fowler's heartbroken father, Stephen Fowler, a senior NSW Police officer, gave an emotional address to the media at the press conference in Canada on Monday.
"I may be an experienced police officer but I'm standing here as the father of the murder victim," Chief Inspector Fowler, of Sydney's north-west Hills district, told reporters.
"We're just distraught."
Mr Fowler and Ms Deese met backpacking in Croatia two years ago and, according to Inspector Fowler, became inseparable.
They continued to travel the world together and embarked on the trip around Canada in the van.
"It's a love story that's ended tragically," Inspector Fowler said.
"It really is the worst ever love story because we now have two young people who had everything ahead of them tragically murdered."
Australian Associated Press
