Taylor Samson murder investigation turns up evidence in Lower Truro
A diving unit with the Nova Scotia RCMP is searching a pond in Lower Truro in connection with the death of Dalhousie University student Taylor Samson.
Halifax Regional Police say they've found evidence connected to Samson's murder at the property they've been searching since Tuesday. Police won't say what the items are, or how they're connected to the case.
"Last night we had a development in that searchers in the area found several items of potential interest to our investigation," said Theresa Rath, a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Police.
"Based on their preliminary analysis, they do believe that the items may be connected to the Taylor Samson homicide."
Forensic identification officers are at the scene and took the items for analysis.
Police continue to search the site. Rath said there were eight search teams at the site on Thursday and more are expected today. An RCMP underwater recovery team has joined them to search a nearby pond.
Rath said police expect to be on the property — which includes a marsh, rolling hills and a corn field — for another several days and throughout the weekend at least.
According to a neighbour, part of the area being searched belongs to the family of the man accused of killing Samson.
Samson's body has not been found.
William Michael Sandeson, a 22-year-old fellow Dalhousie University kinesiology student and track athlete from Lower Truro, is charged with first-degree murder in Samson's death. Sandeson was about to start his first year of medical school.
Police suspect victim was involved in drug deal
According to a warrant filed in Halifax provincial court, police had "reasonable grounds" to believe there was marijuana in Samson's apartment.
Samson, who was from Amherst, was last seen on Aug. 15 at the Sigma Chi fraternity house to which he belonged, on South Street in Halifax.
Samson's girlfriend told police he left the apartment the night he disappeared with a black duffel bag, containing what she believed was marijuana.
She told police when he left, he only took his phone and left behind his wallet and keys, as well as medication for a liver disorder. He told her he would "only be gone for 15 minutes," according to court documents.
Further investigation led police to search a home in the 1200 block of Henry Street in Halifax. Court documents list Sandeson's address as 1210 Henry St. and police say they believe that's where Samson was murdered. It's around the corner from the fraternity house.
The court documents do not say how police linked Samson's disappearance to the suspected murder scene on Henry Street.
