Outpouring of support for Russell, Ont. woman out $168,000 in renovation costs

Allison Brookes hired a new contractor and crew after she alleges the last person she hired took nearly $170,000 and didn't complete the job, leaving her house in disarray.

"They only started on Tuesday, they've already got the bathroom shower reframed in, they're working on properly installing the ceiling in the living room which was already starting to fall down," Brookes said of the major renovation work that restarted this week.

Brookes hired a new contractor and crew after she alleges the last person she hired took nearly $170,000 and didn't complete the job, leaving her house in disarray.

"Since the story aired I've had a couple contractors reach out privately to me through Facebook offering to give us a hand," she said. "And from Russell too. It's a great little community so it's been really nice for the community to come out and offer to help."

Ottawa police have charged Cory Cahill with 65 offences including fraud, uttering threats, mischief and forgery after several people came forward to police with allegations against him.