'Like a blessing hit the highway': Quadruple homicide victim's father braves snowy 2-hour drive for court

Troy Pfeiffer drove two hours on snowy highways early Thursday because he felt he needed to be in Calgary to see a brief court appearance by the two people charged in the killings of his son and two women found inside a burned-out car in May and another man found outside the city.

"We had a half an hour ofbad drive and the rest of it was like a blessing hit the highway," said Pfeiffer who travelled fromBarons, just north of Lethbridge.

"It's a two-hour drive but I would drive 10, 12, 20 hours if I had to."

Pfeiffer's son Cody, 25, was found dead inside a burned-out car in Calgary in May along with the bodies of two sisters,Tiffany Ear, 39, andGlynnisFox, 36. Two days later,HanockAfowerk'sremains were found near a road west of the city.

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In October,TewodrosMutugetaKebede, 25, and YuChiehLiao, 25 werecharged with first-degree murder in the death of Afowerk, 26, and three counts of accessory after the fact in the slayings of Pfeiffer, Ear and Fox.

Homicide charges not been laid in connection withthe three victims found in the vehicle, although police said in October that the investigation is "full steam ahead."

Liao'slawyer, SusanKarpa, appeared on her client's behalf, whileKebedemade a video appearancefrom the Calgary Remand Centre.

Seeing the man accused of being involved in the death of his son took its toll on Pfeiffer.

"First reaction is you want to attack that TV screen," said Pfeiffer."In all reality it makes the palms sweat. The anxiety has never really left."

Troy's surviving son, Kyle, who is "destroyed" by his brother's death, was at court for the appearance as well.

"Those two were inseparable," said Pfeiffer.

All six people the four victims and the two accused were known to each other, police have said.

Investigators are asking people who live near the Canadian Forces base in Moose Jaw, Sask., or a nearby airport to keep an eye out for suspicious-looking burned items thatpolice believe may be connected to the killings.

The case was put over until Nov. 29 while Karpa and Kebede's lawyers, Janis Patel and Stacey Tan, await disclosure from prosecutors, Brian Holtby and Heather Morris.

No other family members showed up but a cousin of Ear and Fox previously told CBC News the sisterswho were born and raised in Morley, Alta. were"beautiful souls" whohad a difficult youth and still struggled at times in adulthood.

"Our hearts go out to the other families that have lost their loved ones," said Pfeiffer.

"[Cody's]soul was so deep into family," said Pfeiffer of his son. "[He]had such a kind heart ... it's just the hardest thing to get over."

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