Oshawa city council urged to demolish ‘house of horrors’ where teen’s remains were found
The house, on McMillan Dr. in the downtown core in Oshawa, is a haunting reminder of the death of 18-year-old Rori Hache, the teen’s godmother told city council.

TheStar.com
March 28, 2018
Jeff Mitchell

A woman is calling for the demolition of the “house of horrors” where a murdered Oshawa teen’s remains were discovered late last year.

The house, on McMillan Dr. in the downtown core, is a haunting reminder of the death of 18-year-old Rori Hache, who disappeared last summer, said Krysia Meeldyk, the teen’s godmother. She is calling upon city council to buy the house and raze it.

“There’s nothing normal about this building,” Meeldyk said. “To me it’s a house of horrors. It doesn’t belong in our community.”

Hache was last seen downtown in August of 2017. In early September her torso was found in the waters of Oshawa Harbour. In late December police found more of the teen’s remains in a basement apartment of the house, at 19 McMillan Dr.

Adam Strong, 45, the tenant in the apartment, has been charged with indecent interference with a dead body. He remains in custody, with his next court appearance scheduled for April 10.

Although it has been determined Hache was the victim of homicide, no one has yet been charged with her murder. Police have not said when, how or where they believe the teen was killed. The investigation continues.

Following the grisly discovery in late 2017 Durham police took control of the McMillan house and spent weeks conducting a forensic examination of Strong’s apartment. Residents of an upper apartment in the building moved out. Now, signs posted on the building indicate it is for rent.

That’s distressing for Meeldyk.

“Rori did not come out of that house alive,” she said. “The community was rocked by this.”

Meeldyk said she plans to circulate a petition calling on the city to buy the house and demolish it.

“We need this house removed,” she said.

Oshawa Mayor John Henry said Tuesday he’d just been made aware of the pending petition. He said it’s too early to formally respond to the suggestion put forth by Meeldyk.

“We need to look at the big picture,” said Henry. “I know it’s bothering the family, but it’s not the city’s property.”

Adjoining properties would be also be affected by any move to demolish the building, Henry noted: “We need to look into this more.

“My sympathy is with the family,” Henry added. “I absolutely understand.”

The owner of the house declined to comment. It is not known if the basement apartment formally occupied by Strong is being offered for rent.

Meeldyk said she understands the property owner has a right to rent out the property.

“She didn’t ask for this and I respect that,” she said. “But the heinous manner in which Rori was taken outweighs this.”

Meeldyk is planning to hold a demonstration at the McMillan property at 1 p.m. on Good Friday.