The Unassuming Facade of an Oshawa House of Horrors
From the outside, the small brick bungalow at 219 McMillan Drive in downtown Oshawa appears utterly ordinary. There is nothing remarkable about its nondescript exterior, a typical residential structure blending into the neighborhood. However, this unassuming property conceals a dark and terrifying history that has left an indelible scar on the community.
A Chilling Discovery and a Serial Killer Unmasked
The nightmare began to unfold on September 11, 2017, when a fisherman discovered a human torso floating in Oshawa Harbour. Two months later, DNA analysis identified the remains as those of Rori Hache, an 18-year-old who had been reported missing since August 29. The troubled teenager was pregnant at the time of her disappearance, leaving investigators with few initial leads.
In December 2017, a macabre breakthrough occurred when clogged pipes at 219 McMillan Drive prompted a plumbing investigation. Strips of human flesh were found obstructing the plumbing, leading police to the basement apartment resident, Adam Strong. He was promptly arrested and charged with murder in connection with Hache's death.
Further investigation revealed that Strong was also linked to the disappearance of Kandice Fitzpatrick, a 19-year-old who had vanished from Oshawa in March 2008. Her DNA was discovered within Strong's residence, and her remains were later recovered. Strong was subsequently charged with her murder as well.
Conviction and Community Trauma
In March 2021, Adam Strong, then 52, was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Rori Hache and manslaughter in the death of Kandice Fitzpatrick. The former film set worker was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. He had killed and dismembered the two women a decade apart, committing acts of violence described as emanating from "the depths of hell."
Since 2018, the families of Hache and Fitzpatrick have pleaded with the city to demolish the house, arguing that its continued existence perpetuates their pain and trauma. Oshawa Councillor Brian Nicholson has expressed strong support for this demand.
"This building reminds us all of a horrific tragedy and its existence continues to harm many in the community," Nicholson stated in an email to The Toronto Sun. "Any steps taken to demolish the building and provide closure to those impacted and to the family would be of great benefit to Oshawa."
The Property's Future and Lingering Questions
The bungalow is now listed for sale through Derek Baird Realty with an asking price of approximately $500,000. However, the listing indicates that the property is intended not as a residence but as part of a redevelopment parcel, likely destined for demolition. This aligns with community calls to erase the physical reminder of the atrocities committed there.
Sources report that Strong's incarceration has been difficult, marked by bullying and scorn from fellow inmates. His potential release, even with advocacy, is considered highly unlikely due to public outrage.
A haunting question persists: did Adam Strong have additional victims? The decade-long gap between his known murders is unusual for crimes of this nature, leaving investigators and the community to wonder if more tragedies remain undiscovered.
The house stands as a silent, defiant testament to the evil that once resided within its walls. Its proposed demolition echoes the fate of other infamous crime scenes, such as the Port Dalhousie home of killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, which was razed two years after their arrest. For Oshawa, the destruction of 219 McMillan Drive may finally allow healing to begin, silencing the figurative screams that still echo from its past.
