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But before they could finish, a suspicious fire burned the farmhouse to the ground
Canada's desolate winter landscape is the perfect setting for the discovery of an abandoned farmhouse with a mysterious dungeon in the basement. As part of the process of prepping the 136 year old farmhouse to be condemned and destroyed, contractors went in to examine the property.In the basement, they found what Ontario police described as a "confinement-style room." The room featured a thick door with several locks on the outside, and its contents were such that the contractors phoned the police - and the police have kept mum. The farmhouse was abandoned in 2006, but according to the National Post, "it is believed the room has been built within the last year or two." When the property was inspected in November 2010, the room was not present.
The Star obtained photographs of the room, which is described as being 12 by 8 feet, with white walls and a "dingy cream-colored tile floor." The room featured a bench pushed against the wall, with four jugs of water tucked beneath it. Steel link chains hung from the ceiling.
At the time the house was found, a police spokesperson optimistically opined that the room might have been constructed as part of a film project. Apparently the area has several creepy abandoned farmhouses, because the area is being cleared to prep for a new airport expansion project. People have been using these properties - both with and without the consent of the legal owners - for things like shooting music videos.
And what else?
The room was discovered in late November. Last week, the fire department was called out to fight a blaze at the property. Unfortunately, the farmhouse's remote location, and the lack of water, meant that the house burned down before the fire department was able to contain the blaze. Thus taking an unknown amount of evidence with it.
It's almost impossible to imagine any non-sinister reason for the basement dungeon and the subsequent arson. It sounds like a scenario straight out of Dexter, The Sopranos, or "Silence of the Lambs." And even more disturbing that whoever built the room - insulated from the outside world by the earth, and miles of uninhabited scrubland - is still active enough to return in order to conceal their crimes.
The property lies about 24 miles north of Toronto, Canada's biggest city. A short drive, to be sure - a convenient commute.
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