Family of murdered OPP officer continue to search for answers

A family continues to grieve the murder of a young man who was just starting a career as a police officer.

OPP Constable Greg Pierzchala was killed in Hagersville last December.

CHCH News spoke to one of the members of his family on Monday as they continue to search for answers.

Justyna Pierzchala says there’s one thing she’d like to ask about the murder of her brother.

“I would just want to know why, I would want to know why they did it, what their intentions were behind it, uhm, yeah I just want to know why,” Justyna said.

It’s been eight months since Pierzchala was shot and killed near Hagersville when he went to help a car in the ditch.

He had just passed his ten-month probation period on the job.

“There was nothing he could have done. He was ambushed. It was initially an ambush,” Justyna said.

READ MORE: Funeral for slain OPP officer to be held Wednesday in Barrie

His sister says it’s tough to find the right words about what happened.

“It’s just unthinkable, I would never think like if I drove a car into a ditch and someone was trying to help me, that would be the last thing on my list, would be to shoot. So, I really… I’m not sure what was going on. It is a little… it does give me some anger but other than that I really have no words,” Justyna said.

An unsettling aspect of this case is that one of the accused was out on bail at the time of the killing.

Two people, Randall McKenzie and Brandi Stewart-Speary, are charged with first-degree murder in Pierzchala’s death.

Mckenzie had been granted bail months before despite a violent criminal record, leading to widespread calls for bail reform.

READ MORE: Case for OPP officer killed near Hagersville, Ont. put over until March

Justyna says the last eight months since her brother’s death have been tough.

“It just doesn’t feel real yet, it’s definitely left a hole that no one will ever be able to fill. It’s been very difficult but it’s just getting through day by day and working through it and my family is one of faith and we still believe that he is watching over us and that is comforting,” Justyna said.

She also finds comfort in the events to honor of her brother, a bike ride through Norfolk County, a memorial run in Barrie where Pierzchala was from, and a golf tournament, all of them raising tens of thousands of dollars for charities.

“I think this fundraising aspect is really important because it just shows that despite such a tragedy, that good can still come from it.”

She says her brother’s death was tragic, but his life has left a good impact on people.