Pair sentenced to life in 2017 quadruple murder case

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — “He was put into a car and burnt like a piece of garbage.”

Troy Pfeiffer said what happened to his son over two years ago still haunts him and even though justice has been served in a Calgary courtroom, the pain remains.

On Thursday, Tewodros Kebede and Yu Chieh (Diana) Liao were both sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole for 25 years in relation to the brutal killings of Hanock Afowerk, Cody Pfeiffer, Tiffany Ear, and Glynnis Fox.

Afowerk was killed in July 2017 as a result of a kidnap-for-ransom plot that turned sour, with Pfeiffer, Ear, and Fox killed because they witnessed the murder.

Afowerk’s body was discovered outside the city after the bodies of Pfeiffer, Ear, and Fox were found in Afowerk’s burned-out car at a southwest Calgary construction site.

Ear and Fox, from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, were also sisters and leave behind many children between them.

In December, Kebede and Liao were convicted of first-degree murder for Afowerk’s killing and accessory after the fact in the deaths of the other three — however, their actual killers remain unknown.

It is also believed that Pfeiffer was present when Afowerk was murdered.

READ MORE: Sage Hill quadruple murder victims may have been wrong place at wrong time

Emotional victim impact statements were heard from Troy, his wife Terri Pfeiffer, and Afowerk’s sister Martha.

Martha said her family’s hearts are “broken and empty” after the loss of her only sibling, and she will never forgive the killers.

She said Afowerk was loved and adored by his family and is haunted by the horrific decisions that robbed him of his future.

Terri and Troy were each wearing shirts saying “Justice for Cody” on the front, with a picture of their son on the back under the words “403 4 Life”.

In their statements, they said the death has left their family forever broken, and the trial has been “mentally, emotionally, and financially crushing.”

During her statement, Terri stared at Kebede and Liao when she forcefully said how her son was “shot, set on fire and burnt” in a “brutal, vicious, senseless, and cruel” way.

At times, Liao wiped away tears as Terri and Troy spoke while Kebede was emotionless throughout the sentencing except for a few moments when he appeared to be smirking.

After sentencing arguments were presented, Troy spoke to reporters in the lobby of the Calgary Courts Centre and said he wants harsher sentences.

“His life was brutally taken,” he said. “To hear these low numbers of five, seven years concurrent, it’s a kick in the face.”

The Crown argued that in addition to the automatic life sentences for first-degree murder, Kebede should serve six to seven concurrent years, minus time served, for accessory as it’s believed he set fire to the vehicle.

For Liao, the Crown said she should serve seven or eight years for each of the three accessory charges she was convicted of.

The defence said their position was close to the Crown, however, they added Liao should serve only one sentence for the three accessory convictions.

In the end, the judge sided firmly with the Crown in sentencing Kebede to six years and Liao to seven years globally, each to be served concurrently to the life sentences.

The fact that the actual killers of Pfeiffer, Ear, and Fox remains unknown lies heavy on Troy’s mind.

“It makes me sick. I don’t sleep very much at night,” he said. “I hope they do find the individual that took Cody’s life, but as we speak now, the ones they do have should get life for all the victims.”

The judge said that Kebede and Liao committed “horrific” acts that were “planned and pre-meditated,” adding that the pair showed “callous disregard” for their bodies.

While the court could not determine who killed Pfeiffer, Ear, and Fox, he said it was clear that the pair were “integral to completing these crimes,” and as a result, they represent a significant harm to society.

He said their moral culpability is high, as they both showed no remorse throughout the trial and have not cooperated with police in finding anyone else linked to the murders.

Troy said he keeps a pendant around his neck containing some of Cody’s ashes and it helps keep the memory of his son alive.

“He met every day head on like a bull. Then you wear him around your neck and you always know you got that piece. He’s always in your heart, but it just helps so much more having the pendant.”

Ear’s and Fox’s aunt, Nancy Ear, is hopeful the end of the case can finally bring some closure.

“I want to let them go today. Their spirits are over there now.”