Charges laid in July quadruple homicide
Police now say accused, victims knew each other
Calgary police have laid charges against two people in a quadruple homicide investigation and are pleading for anyone with information to come forward as they continue to investigate the case.
The charges are connected to the deaths of Glynnis Fox, 36, Cody Pfeiffer, 25, and Tiffany Ear, 39, who were found dead in a burning car in Sage Hill on July 10, and Hanock Afowerk, 26, who was found two days later near Highway 22 and Highway 8.
Yu Chieh Liao, who goes by Diana Liao, and Tewodros Mutugeta Kebede have each been charged with one count of first degree murder in Afowerk’s death.
The pair also face three counts each of accessory after the fact to murder in the deaths of Fox, Pfeiffer and Ear.
Last July, Calgary police said Liao and Kebede were persons of interest in what they were then calling a “huge” step forward in the case. They were arrested in Toronto on unrelated matters.
Investigators said at the time that they had linked Liao to a rental vehicle used in the crime at Sage Hill.
Acting Insp. Paul Wozney said the investigative theories being considered in this case have shifted in the last three months.
“We are now of the belief, based on the corroboration of records, interviews and other police techniques, that these people are all known to one another,” Wozney said.
At Wednesday’s press conference, police were careful not to repeat, as they had previously, that some of the victims may have simply “been in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“All six of these people — the four victims and the two accused — were known to one another,” Wozney said.
“The exact nature of those roles, I can’t comment on at this particular time.”
Wozney did credit the assistance of the Toronto police guns and gangs unit for helping the investigation.
“The CPS would like to acknowledge the family members suffering in this tragic loss and offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims,” Wozney said.
And police continue to plead for more information from the public.
Police are specifically assuring anyone with information who might be afraid to come forward that they will receive assistance.
“If you’re scared, if you feel intimidated, we would be able to provide you with assistance,” said Wozney.
Both Liao, 24, and Kebede, 25, appeared separately in provincial court Wednesday and had their cases adjourned to Nov. 2.
Liao’s lawyer, Susan Karpa, said she’s awaiting disclosure from the Crown.
Prosecutor Adam May, appearing for co-prosecutor Brian Holtby, said it’s expected police won’t have disclosure for the Crown for about a month and said his colleague will likely need two weeks to review it, before passing it on to the defence.
But Karpa told Judge Mike Dinkel she wanted her client to return to court sooner than the two months suggested by May.
“This may be a matter where we want to determine next steps rather quickly,” she said, of scheduling a possible bail hearing or preliminary inquiry.
May and Holtby are in special prosecutions, which handles organized crime and gang-related cases.
Liao, who appeared in person, did not address the court.
Duty counsel Joel Livergant addressed court on behalf of Kebede, who appeared via closed circuit TV from the Calgary Remand Centre.
Livergant asked that Kebede’s case also return on Nov. 2, to allow him time to find a lawyer. Both remain in custody. A cousin of victim Cody Pfeiffer, Dennis Hillareguy, said that he was happy to hear police took suspects into custody, but he added it’s “kind of sad” that the first-degree murder charges are only in one of the four deaths.
“It sure would be nice to get some closure and get those people off the street,” he said.
Carla Fox, a cousin of Glynnis Fox and Ear, said she is hopeful that the developments announced Wednesday will lead to more charges soon.
“My cousins were like sisters to me and I miss them every day,” she said.
“They deserve to rest in peace and the children and family deserve to live in peace.”
Fox and Ear left behind 16 children between them.