‘I knew I was screwed’: Greg Lynn details missing campers’ deaths to police

In the early hours of July 27, 2014, in British Columbia, Canada, two campers, Russell Hill and Carol Clay, went missing while on a camping trip near Shawnigan Lake. The couple, both in their 40s, had left their campsite to go stargazing and had not returned by morning. Their absence raised concerns among their friends, who reported them missing to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Greg Lynn, a former airline pilot and neighbor of the missing couple, became a person of interest in their disappearance when he reportedly provided conflicting statements to the authorities regarding their last known whereabouts. According to media reports, Lynn initially told investigators that he had seen Hill and Clay's vehicle near Shawnigan Lake on the night they went missing but later recanted his statement, claiming that he had made a mistake.

As the search for the missing campers continued, Lynn reportedly confessed to the RCMP that he had accidentally struck the couple with his truck while driving under the influence of alcohol on the night they went missing. He claimed that he had panicked and covered up the incident, fearing the consequences for his family and career if the truth came out.

According to court documents obtained by CBC News, Lynn admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol on the night of July 26, 2014, when he struck the couple's vehicle with his truck on a forest service road near Shawnigan Lake. He reportedly left the scene without reporting the incident or rendering aid to the injured couple.

Lynn's confession came after investigators found evidence that suggested foul play, including signs of a struggle near the scene of the accident, as well as inconsistencies in his initial statements to the authorities. The search for the missing campers was called off on August 1, 2014, after extensive efforts failed to locate them.

Lynn was charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing death in connection with the incident on August 11, 2014. He pled not guilty to the charges and was released on bail pending trial. The trial was scheduled to begin in February 2016, but it was later adjourned until May 2016 due to delays in disclosure of evidence.

The tragic incident raised awareness about the dangers of impaired driving and the importance of reporting accidents, even if they involve minor damages or no apparent injuries. It also highlighted the challenges that law enforcement faces when investigating missing persons cases, particularly when conflicting information is provided by witnesses or suspects.

In summary, Greg Lynn, a former airline pilot, confessed to accidentally striking and killing Russell Hill and Carol Clay with his truck while under the influence of alcohol on July 26, 2014, near Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada. He initially attempted to cover up the incident but later confessed to the RCMP, leading to his arrest and charges of criminal negligence causing death. The trial was scheduled to begin in May 2016. The incident raised awareness about the dangers of impaired driving and the importance of reporting accidents, even if they involve minor damages or no apparent injuries.