Stranahan was reluctant to leave his job as an investigator, but it was made clear that political reasons prevented the state attorney from keeping on staff someone who had killed a judge, even if he was crooked. As a result, Stranahan took a buyout and moved to a rustic wooden house in Biscayne Bay, seeking a quieter life away from his previous work.

He lived there for several years mostly undisturbed until Hurricane Andrew destroyed his home. The storm's destruction marked a significant turning point, forcing him to confront the loss of his secluded retreat and perhaps reconsider his life choices.