The father of a Canadian teenager accused of killing three people, including Australian man Lucas Fowler, says he is waiting for further evidence to prove his son is a murderer.
[jwplayer P9lgRV6A-IxfdLzLk]
Alan Schmegelsky, the father of Bryer Schmegelsky, spoke to 60 Minutes after his son was found dead in remote Manitoba last week.
“My worst fear would be living the rest of my life not knowing where they are,” Schmegelsky said, referring to the discovery of his son and co-accused friend Kam McLeod.
“Having no closure. That would be my worst fear… I don’t want to be the guy who spends the rest of my life wandering the woods of Manitoba looking for his only child.”
When asked why the pair – who were accused of killing Fowler, his American girlfriend Chynna Deese, and Canadian man Leonard Dyck in July – refused to turn themselves in, Schmegelsky questioned their maturity.
“We’ll never know the answer. All I know is they were teenagers,” he said.
“Teenagers don’t always think like mature adults. Everybody is so quick to judge.”
Schmegelsky said the situation was “the worst nightmare anyone could ever imagine, ever,” but stopped short of saying his son was guilty.
His son might be dead, but for Alan Schmegelsky this is not the end of his search for answers. He says he still needs proof before he’ll believe Bryer is a killer. #60Mins pic.twitter.com/uUWSb20VgL
— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) August 11, 2019
CBC reports that Chynna’s sister Kennedy Deese responded to the broadcast on Facebook, telling Schmegelsky he “cannot relate to us.”
“To the murderers and their family, the appropriate action when mistakes are made is taking responsibility,” Deese said.
“The proper public response would have been a genuine apology. But we still forgive you and have mercy.”
You can watch the 60 Minutes report here.
