Father of Merritt slain children may have access to truck: neighbours

Nine days and more than 260 tips later, the RCMP are still searching for the man suspected in the slayings of his three children in Merritt, B.C., on April 6.

Some Merritt residents told CBC News on Monday that Allan Dwayne Schoenborn, 40, was sometimes seen driving a green pickup truck prior to the discovery of the bodies of Kaitlynne, 10, Max, 8, and Cordon, 5. 

Robert Richard is among the neighbours who occasionally saw Schoenborn driving the old pickup. He said the odd thing was that Schoenborn would park a block away and then walk through a vacant lot to his wife's mobile home.

"Well, he was using it for transportation, and he would arrive at the trailer carrying packsacks, two of them, and they were full of his clothes and whatever, I guess."

CBC News has also learned a local mechanic had fixed the truck for Schoenborn. The mechanic, who requested anonymity, only said he told police what he knew, and would make no further comment.

The sightings of the green truck have led some neighbours to wonder if Schoenborn escaped Merritt in that vehicle, but RCMP spokeswoman Const. Annie Linteau said Monday police don't believe that's the case.

"We've looked into all possibilities and all vehicles he could get his hands on," she said. "He has no known vehicles associated to him. He's also a prohibited driver, although he has been known to drive."

Linteau would not give a description of the vehicle, or say whether police have located it.

RCMP criticized for not following up on tip quickly

Last Monday, police issued a photograph and description of Schoenborn, saying he was a suspect in the deaths of his three children. On Friday, police issued additional pictures of him.

But two northern Okanagan residents are upset the RCMP took four days to follow up when they called in a tip, saying they believe they saw Schoenborn on Wednesday, about 60 kilometres east of Vernon.

Wendy Mazu was working at the Cherryville Emporium on Highway 6 Wednesday around noon when a man she believes to be Schoenborn came into the store looking to cash in 10 beer cans and buy cigarette rolling paper.

"He was a short man, five foot four inches. He had a balding spot and [was] wearing a black hoodie," said Mazu.

Mazu did not recognize the man when she saw him in the store, but when she arrived home, her co-worker phoned and asked her to turn on the TV news.

"And she says, 'Wendy look at the news quick.' So I looked at the news and that was him, and I am like 'Oh my God! OK, I should do something,'" said Mazu.

Mazu called the RCMP tip line in Lumby that evening, but received no response.

"I phoned the tip line and reported it and … nothing was done. I am really disappointed with that," said Mazu.

Police responded Saturday

She followed up by calling again the next day, but it was not until Saturday that police arrived to take her statement.

She said the RCMP told her the tip slipped through the cracks.

"Our initial review of the tip in Cherryville and followup leads us to believe it's not Allan Schoenborn," Linteau said earlier Monday.

Police are also investigating why the tip was not followed up immediately.

"We don't want it to happen again, so we're trying to find out where the breakdown was," Linteau said.