First-Person: “My Daughter Survived a Home Invasion — And It Changed Everything”

By Derek Sitko

On October 31st, what began as a normal day for me turned into one of the most terrifying of my life.

My wife and eldest daughter had flown overseas weeks earlier as part of our family’s long-planned decision to relocate. We had spent years preparing to leave Canada, feeling that the quality of life had eroded beyond what we could endure.

I had stayed behind with my younger daughter Finn, 18, to finish packing and tie up the final loose ends at our home in Terrace Bay.

That morning, I left early for Thunder Bay. I had banking to do and luggage to buy for our upcoming departure on November 5th. Finn opted to stay home — she was preparing a costume for a Halloween party later that evening. We were in touch via apps since we had already cancelled our phone plans, relying only on basic data service through eSIMs.

Around 10 a.m., while shopping, I received a WhatsApp call from my wife. She was panicked. Our daughter had messaged her: someone was in the house.

I immediately tried to call Finn using Snapchat — the only app she could access. She didn’t answer but sent a message: “Don’t call. I can’t make any noise.”

She was locked inside her basement bedroom. Someone had broken in through a window near the basement stairs — the only exit from her level of the house. The intruder was pacing just outside her door. She stayed completely silent in the dark.

Despite being terrified, Finn remained calm and incredibly level-headed. She messaged me, her mother, her sister overseas, and a friend who was still at school.

I raced back to Terrace Bay while staying in contact as best I could. I called my parents, who live nearby, and asked them to go to the house immediately.

My father David, 70, ran over on foot. My mother Paula was driven by a neighbour, Steven Friedrich. When they arrived, they forced entry into the house. Steven climbed through the broken window and let the others in.

What happened next was chaos.

As they called out for Finn, the intruder emerged suddenly from a basement bathroom. Steven, who had gone downstairs, was confronted and injured in the altercation.

My father joined the struggle, and together they restrained the man until help could arrive.

Also arriving during this time was Finn’s friend Jace Coughlin, who had been on the phone with 911. He entered the home and assisted in restraining the intruder. Finn used that moment to safely leave her room and exit the house.

Emergency services arrived approximately 40 minutes later.

The suspect was arrested and transported to hospital for evaluation. Police later took statements from those involved.

Finn’s Account

According to Finn, she first heard a loud bang as the intruder attempted to force open the sliding door. Then came the sound of breaking glass from the basement window.

She remained hidden in her room with the lights off while the suspect walked through the basement hall — entering and exiting the bathroom, and at one point walking upstairs and returning. Her door was locked, and though the individual was just outside, he did not attempt to open it.

When Steven called for her, Finn opened her door slightly — just as the bathroom door was flung open and the confrontation began. She immediately closed and locked the door again, not leaving until my mother called to her and confirmed it was safe.

After police secured the scene, Finn walked through the house to check for anything out of place.

The only item visibly missing was a camera backpack, emptied and removed. Also left in the home was a bag containing wine bottles and a paperback book.

We Were Five Days from Leaving

This happened just days before we were set to leave the country permanently. Had Finn joined me in Thunder Bay that day, we would have returned to find someone waiting in the home.

I cannot overstate the bravery of my daughter and the fast actions of Steven Friedrich, David and Paula Sitko, and Jace Coughlin. They acted instinctively, selflessly, and courageously.

They are the reason Finn is safe.

This experience has left deep scars on our family. It has shaken our trust in the systems that are supposed to protect people. And it has made clear how vulnerable remote communities are when emergency response times stretch far longer than they should.

A Final Thought

I’m not here to speculate on motive or diagnosis. That’s for the courts and professionals. But I will say this: when someone breaks into a home and stays—without stealing, without fleeing—it raises deeply unsettling questions.

We were lucky. Not everyone is.

To the community: keep your doors locked. Check on your neighbours. And if something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it.