The unassuming brick bungalow at 219 McMillan Dr. in Oshawa holds a darkness that belies its ordinary appearance. It stands as a silent monument to unimaginable evil, a place where horrors unfolded that are thankfully rare, even in a world accustomed to violence.
The nightmare began on September 11, 2017, when a fisherman made a gruesome discovery in Oshawa Harbour – a severed torso. Two months later, DNA confirmed the identity of the victim: Rori Hache, an 18-year-old who had been missing since August 29th. She was pregnant, and the investigation quickly stalled, leaving authorities with few leads.
The breakthrough, chillingly, came not from diligent detective work, but from a plumbing issue. In December 2017, clogged pipes at 219 McMillan Dr. revealed a macabre truth – strips of human flesh blocking the drain. Police descended upon the property, arresting Adam Strong, the resident of the basement apartment, and charging him with murder.
The investigation didn’t end there. The name Kandis Fitzpatrick surfaced, a 19-year-old who had vanished from Oshawa in March 2008. Her DNA was found within Strong’s dwelling, and eventually, her remains were recovered. He was subsequently charged with her murder as well.
In March 2021, justice was served. Adam Strong, then 52, was convicted of first-degree murder in Rori Hache’s death and manslaughter in Kandis Fitzpatrick’s. The former film set worker received a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 25 years, a consequence for the decade-long span of his horrific crimes.
Now, the house itself is for sale, listed as a potential redevelopment opportunity. While the price tag might seem appealing, the true cost is measured in tragedy and loss. The intention isn’t to restore it as a home, but to erase it from the landscape.
For years, the families of Rori Hache and Kandis Fitzpatrick have pleaded with the city to demolish the building. Councillor Brian Nicholson echoes their sentiment, recognizing the continued pain the structure inflicts on the community. Its removal would offer a measure of closure to those forever impacted.
Reports suggest Strong’s time in prison has been brutal, marked by bullying and isolation. A return to society seems unthinkable, a prospect the public would vehemently oppose. Yet, a haunting question lingers: were there other victims?
The decade between the two confirmed murders is unusual for crimes of this nature, fueling speculation and fear. The house at 219 McMillan Dr. remains, a stark and unsettling reminder of the darkness it concealed, silently challenging the city and its survivors.
The fate of this house mirrors the case of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, whose house of horrors was demolished two years after their arrest. That decisive act offered a sense of finality. The same resolution is desperately needed for 219 McMillan Dr.
Until the building is gone, the echoes of heartbreak and unanswered cries for help will continue to resonate. It stands as a chilling testament to the evil that can lurk behind the most ordinary facades, a darkness that demands to be extinguished.
