Police identify suspect in quadruple homicide

Investigators have zeroed in on a woman they believe played a significant role in the events that led to the brutal slayings of four people, including three found in a burned car in a northwest suburb.

Calgary police said Thursday that they’re looking for Yu Chieh Liao, 24, who also goes by Diana Liao, calling her a person of interest in last week’s quadruple homicide — in a development investigators are calling a “huge” step forward in the investigation.

Acting Insp. Paul Wozney said Liao’s name came up a few days into the investigation and they’ve been looking for her since.

Investigators want to question Liao about 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.

“She’s somebody that we know has information in relation to this matter and we want to speak to her,” Wozney said.

Police have linked Liao to a rental vehicle that was used in the crime at Sage Hill and believe that she and Afowerk knew each other.

Liao is an Asian female, 5-foot-5-inches tall and 160 pounds. She has long dark hair and brown eyes.

Police say she was last seen in Moose Jaw on July 12 — the day Afowerk was found dead — in the company of an unknown black male described as being “small in stature.”

Police believe the unidentified male was at the scene of the fire.

Wozney described Liao as “nomadic,” with ties to cities across Canada, including Calgary, Vancouver, Moose Jaw, Regina and Toronto.

“I guess you could say we were one step behind her,” said Wozney. “We’re working hard to try to locate her.”

Police believe Liao frequents hotels and uses rental vehicles.

“It would be difficult to pinpoint any sort of community that she’s exclusively tied to,” Wozney said.

Investigators continue to “explore the theory” that the three victims found in the burned car were caught up in a targeted attack against Afowerk.

Police believe there may be multiple suspects or persons of interest in this case.

Anyone with information about Liao or the unidentified male are encouraged to contact police at 403-2661234 or the homicide tip line at 403-428-8877.