CANADA Canada- Eli Wood, 25, student@ Sir Wilfred Laurier Univ., missing after fire (poss. arson)@ home, Kitchener, Ont.,19 Oct., 2025, *Foul play suspected*

[Mayjusticeprevail]

Questions:

1) on the studio photos, I don’t see a bathroom. There probably is something. It could be a shower, a tub…hard to tell. But in my mind, a “spa day” implies at least a hot tub, or a jacuzzi. Does anyone know what Eli meant by “a spa”?

2) since it was a “GoFundMe”, the money were probably transferred electronically. But if Eli was robbed, there may be a certain way to trace the money. I hope.

Best of luck to the family! Must be a horrible story. Maybe the fire’s goal was to destroy all electronics.

Spa day was in reference to pampering his dog. Family disclosed this info on social media and it was part of the Crime With Kait segment about EW’s disappearance.

Link to video

Hopefully financial records have been looked into confirming any suspicious withdrawals and transactions in the time leading up to the fire.

 

[dotr]

Maybe the perp was specifically there to commit arson at the building?
What if E's place was easier to access and he became collateral damage, or targeted to be blamed for the fire.?
random speculation.

 

[Bigditch]

Could it be listed on a real estate website if it wasn't?

Sure. It is up to the purchaser to do their due diligence. The realtor may not know.

 

[Mayjusticeprevail]

Maybe the perp was specifically there to commit arson at the building?
What if E's place was easier to access and he became collateral damage, or targeted to be blamed for the fire.?
random speculation.

This crossed my mind as well. The house had been listed for sale in Oct 2024 and again in April 2025 so it could have been cased online.
Then watched from the street or even the park.

 

[Claroon]

Sure. It is up to the purchaser to do their due diligence. The realtor may not know.

Here is what the realtor said on Instagram.

Duplex called legal, in-law studio is usually a term meant for letting it out to a family member, IMO.


Was there a thought behind your question of legality? Share it.

 

[Claroon]

There really isn't a lot of time to do much once the smoke detector goes off. If the alarm went off at around 6am the tenants would have been alerted and seen anything suspicious. Who ever was involved with his disappearance would have had to been quick and planned. With a multi unit like that the least someone would do is look out their window? JMO

(bbm)

In cases like this, I believe a police canvass includes questions about who was home, sounds they might have heard, lights they might have seen, visitors they might have had, vehicles noticed, arguments heard, smoke sighting, or anything else unusual. Early flames and smoke may not be visible to neighbours though alarms had already sounded in the tri-plex.

Setting a fire like this doesn't necessarily require a long or complicated plan, IMO, just lighter, matches...If a fire started at the doorway, speculating the perp stood outside on the steps and lit the curtains on fire, the perp would only need seconds to leave. He might have his vehicle pulled right up to the back fence in the park by then too and just run away. If his vehicle was an EV, no one would hear it start.

 

[Mayjusticeprevail]

(bbm)

In cases like this, I believe a police canvass includes questions about who was home, sounds they might have heard, lights they might have seen, visitors they might have had, vehicles noticed, arguments heard, smoke sighting, or anything else unusual. Early flames and smoke may not be visible to neighbours though alarms had already sounded in the tri-plex.

Setting a fire like this doesn't necessarily require a long or complicated plan, IMO, just lighter, matches...If a fire started at the doorway, speculating the perp stood outside on the steps and lit the curtains on fire, the perp would only need seconds to leave. He might have his vehicle pulled right up to the back fence in the park by then too and just run away. If his vehicle was an EV, no one would hear it start.

Would they have made 2 trips then? Took EW to vehicle, returned to set the fire then drove off?

Would lighting the curtains inside the unit with matches cause such a powerful fire? The flames blasted out under covered porch and into the yard area.

There was a photo from neighbour used in MSM.everyone must have been really terrified

 

[Bigditch]

Here is what the realtor said on Instagram.

Duplex called legal, in-law studio is usually a term meant for letting it out to a family member, IMO.


Was there a thought behind your question of legality? Share it.



View attachment 640991

Good question.

A duplex is usually a home conversion or build that includes 2 separate dwellings, up down or side by side. An in-law suite could also be contained within one of those units and generally is not a rental but family occupied.

A three unit legal dwelling is classified as a triplex, meaning it adheres to fire regulations, building codes, and has proof of permits.

My thinking was it might have been arson for the insurance money since it had been on the market for a while.

Maybe Eli was not supposed to be there at the time of the fire.
Jmo

 

[Mayjusticeprevail]

Good question.

A duplex is usually a home conversion or build that includes 2 separate dwellings, up down or side by side. An in-law suite could also be contained within one of those units and generally is not a rental but family occupied.

A three unit legal dwelling is classified as a triplex, meaning it adheres to fire regulations, building codes, and has proof of permits.

My thinking was it might have been arson for the insurance money since it had been on the market for a while.

Maybe Eli was not supposed to be there at the time of the fire.
Jmo

I’ve wondered this as well.
As a Wilfrid Laurier student, EW had no classes the week up to the fire.
Oct 13 - Canadian Thanksgiving
Oct 14 - 17 - Reading Week

Speculation:
EW was from Nova Scotia so perp may have thought he went there to be with family.

Also to add,
EW had mutual aid request up on Facebook and go fund me so he may not have been responding to calls or knocks at door if he was behind in rent which led to the thinking he was not home.


Additional info/detail:
The "in-law" suite is part of the home structure. Attached to the main house and situated above part of the basement apartment.

 

[Claroon]

Good question.

A duplex is usually a home conversion or build that includes 2 separate dwellings, up down or side by side. An in-law suite could also be contained within one of those units and generally is not a rental but family occupied.

A three unit legal dwelling is classified as a triplex, meaning it adheres to fire regulations, building codes, and has proof of permits.

My thinking was it might have been arson for the insurance money since it had been on the market for a while.

Maybe Eli was not supposed to be there at the time of the fire.
Jmo

Committing arson even for fraud while people are in the triplex would risk a murder charge. So I'm unlikely to believe this theory.

 

[Claroon]

Good question.

A duplex is usually a home conversion or build that includes 2 separate dwellings, up down or side by side. An in-law suite could also be contained within one of those units and generally is not a rental but family occupied.

A three unit legal dwelling is classified as a triplex, meaning it adheres to fire regulations, building codes, and has proof of permits.

My thinking was it might have been arson for the insurance money since it had been on the market for a while.

Maybe Eli was not supposed to be there at the time of the fire.
Jmo

Interestingly, I did look up the Kitchener permit page mostly to see if there was anything regarding landscaping. The only permit I found was from I think 2003 for the wood awning, not the unit. Noting, I'm no pro at checking permits. But I did see that one.