Woman sought in Calgary quadruple homicide believed to have 'significant information'

Calgary police are asking the public for help in locating a woman they describe as a person of interest who has "significant information" about the slaying of four people just over a week ago.

Police said Thursday thatYu ChiehLiao, 24, who also goes by the name Diana Liao, is believed to have played "a significant role" in the events that led up to the deaths of three people whose bodies were discovered in a burned-out car in the northwest community of Sage Hill and the death of another man whose body was found in a ditch just outside the city.

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Police released a photo ofLiao on Thursday and described heras standing about 5-5" tall and weighing roughly 160 pounds, with long dark hair and brown eyes.

"She's somebody we know has information in relation to this matter and we want to speak with her," Acting Insp. PaulWozney said.

"We would like to speak to her to find out exactly what she knows about this."

Liao is believed to have ties to Calgary, Vancouver, Moose Jaw, Regina, and Toronto, and police said she may be travelling with an unidentified man they described as being "small in stature."

Wozney said Liaois known to live a "nomadic lifestyle" and regularly uses rental vehicles and stays in hotels.

She was last seen on July 12 in the Moose Jaw area.

Sisters GlynnisFox, 36, and Tiffany Ear, 39, along with Cody Pfeiffer, 25, were found dead in a burned-out car in Sage Hill on July 10.

HanockAfowerk, 26, was found dead in a ditch near Highway 22 and Highway 8 on July 12.

Police say all four deaths are connected and they are continuing to "explore the theory" that the three people in the car were caught up in a targeted attack against Afowerk.

Wozney said police "are aware of a relationship" between Liao and Afowerk.

Neighbourhood inquiries in Sage Hillled police to believe Liao and the unidentified man she's likely travelling with were at the scene of the car fire.

Images of Liaoand the man were captured by commercial security cameras in Moose Jaw on July 12, Wozney said.

"I guess you could say we were one step behind her," he added.

Investigators believe multiple people may be involved in the homicides and arestill in search of additional crime scenes.

Wozneysaid police want to stress "the brutality and ruthlessness of the murders" in their appeal to the public for information.

Investigators saidthey still can't provide details publicly about the nature of the victims' deaths but, in a news release, police said"all victims suffered significant traumatic injuries."

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or the homicide unit tip line at403-428-8877.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at1-800-222-8477 or calgarycrimestoppers.org.

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