Firefighters and emergency personal work at the scene after a house explosion in Mississauga, Ont., on June 28, 2016.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
In the seconds after a deafening house explosion rocked a Mississauga neighbourhood, the sky was filled with pink insulation, two-by-fours and written confessions to God.
The diary entries, biblical passages and personal documents that rained down on the neighbourhood are being examined as clues as investigators try to determine what led to the blast that killed one person, injured several others and damaged more than two dozen homes.
The letters and public records point to a troubled life for the family connected to the home on Hickory Drive, near Rathburn and Dixie Roads.
"Dear God, as of next week everything will fall apart for us," said one note, an image of which was widely shared online before it was taken down.
Police and fire officials cautioned that the probe was at a preliminary stage and it was too early to speculate about a cause.
Property records identify the owners of the house as Robert Walter Nadler, 56, and his wife, Diane Page. A call to the phone number associated with the home online goes to a voice-mail that says: "Leave a message for Bob or Diane."
In the early 1980s, a Mississauga man with the same name and age was convicted of killing his friend after an argument over money. He was sentenced to life in prison, but eligible for parole after 10 years.
Police have yet to identify the woman who died in Tuesday's blast and said they've been unable to find next of kin.
Constable Harinder Sohi of Peel Police said they have not yet confirmed the property's owners or residents, and that the homicide unit has not joined the investigation.
One woman was killed and nine others sustained injuries in a blast that caused a mass evacuation of many homes in the immediate vicinity, for fear that structural stability may be compromised.
Property records show the house was bought outright by Mr. Nadler's parents Kathe and Frank Nadler in 1989, before being transferred to him in 2009.
News archives uncovered details of a Robert Walter Nadler convicted in 1982 at the age of 21 of bludgeoning, strangling and stabbing his best friend Eric Pogson, after an argument over money at a home on Goldmar Drive. Mr. Pogson's body was found a year later, in a shallow grave under a thick bush, not far from the site of the murder.
The court heard at the time that Mr. Nadler had wrapped the body in garbage bags and hauled it across the street in a wheelbarrow to bury it. Police were alerted only months after the crime, when he confessed among friends.
The Globe and Mail has not confirmed whether the convicted man is the owner of the destroyed property.
Peel Regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans told reporters Wednesday morning that handwritten letters suggesting a cause were discovered in the blast area and had been turned over to investigators.
Police said they would not be releasing the contents of the notes, but images obtained by bystanders and released on social media suggested financial problems. Reports said residents in the area found paperwork among falling debris including handwritten letters and even a man's will.
Documents show that the ownership of the house where the explosion occurred was transferred to Mr. Nadler in 2009, long after his mother, listed as co-owner of the property, died in November, 2001. His father remains listed as co-owner, although he died in 2011.
A woman named Diane Page is listed as Mr. Nadler's wife and guarantor on the records of a $239,360 mortgage taken out on the house in February, 2013, one that is still not fully paid. It is not yet known whether the two reside at the address, or were present at the time of the explosion.
Police have not yet released the identity of the victim or confirmed whether she lived in the area, but said in a news conference that she was found on the property.
The neighbourhood has many long-time residents, some of whom have owned their homes since the 1980s.
One such couple, Zvonko and Ludmila Krosel, lived two doors down and were in their backyard at the time of the explosion. Mr. Krosel was on a stepladder and used it to cover himself against falling debris, while Ms. Krosel took shelter behind a cherry tree.
Their granddaughter, Andrea Petersen, told The Globe and Mail that Mr. and Ms. Krosel are safe and currently staying with her father.
"The investigation is going on all weekend, so we can't anticipate a return nor can we anticipate when we can go and look at the damage," she said.
Ms. Petersen said a middle-aged couple lived at the residence, but her grandparents did not know them personally. As a frequent visitor to the area, she said the neighbourhood was very well-kept and nothing seemed amiss about the house near theirs.
Meanwhile, Mississauga Fire Chief Tim Beckett said the perimeter would include Hickory Drive, Dixie Road and Rathburn Road East until Thursday at least.
An apartment complex and townhouses in the area, as well as most houses on Hickory Drive, remained evacuated on Wednesday morning. The evacuation drove 50 to 100 people from their homes, many of whom have been unable to return to assess the damage. Many homes on the outer perimeter were still disconnected from gas and hydro utilities as of Wednesday afternoon.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that there were still 20 to 25 people at the community centre where food and shelter were being provided to evacuees. She said two families – a total of six people – required shelter on Tuesday night.
"We want to assess what their needs are and see whatever assistance that we can provide," Ms. Crombie said.
She said the Salvation Army would be accepting donations of new or lightly used furniture and household items to aid families looking to rebuild after the devastation.
With reports from Rick Cash and Stephanie Chambers