In Oshawa, Ontario, everyone knew Ken Chopee as “the Star Wars guy.” A lifelong collector of memorabilia, comics, and film artifacts, his identity was built around a galaxy far, far away — until his life came to a violent end in January 2023.
In this episode of The Prime Detective, we examine the real-life killing of Ken Chopee, the man behind the nickname, and the events that led to his death inside a micro-housing unit. Drawing on reporting from The Globe and Mail and Oshawa This Week, this story explores addiction, loss, and the fragile line between fandom and identity.
But this isn’t just a true crime story.
It’s about what we collect.
What those collections say about us.
And what happens to them — and to us — when we’re gone.
Credits:
The killing of Oshawa’s ‘Star Wars guy’ has residents wondering what’s happened to their city by Marcus Gee (The Globe and Mail)
‘Live with this regret’: Man sentenced in fentanyl killing of Star Wars memorabilia collector by Jeremy Grimaldi (Oshawa This Week via DurhamRegion.com)
‘RIP, Ken’: Friends post tributes to Ken Chopee, victim of Oshawa murder by Jeff Mitchell (Oshawa This Week via DurhamRegion.com)
“The Prime Detective” is produced and hosted by Grayson Thagard
Music for “The Prime Detective” is composed by Ben Wise: https://benwise.bandcamp.com/
Website and publishing support thanks to David Moody, Producer: “Let’s Talk About Treks” The Podcast
Original artwork for “The Prime Detective” by Julie Hendrickson
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