TORONTO – Police were seen removing yellow evidence bags and shovelling hay from the Waterloo-area farm owned by murder suspect Dellen Millard on Tuesday morning.
Toronto Police Staff Inspector Greg McLane told Global News that the search is related to the disappearance of Laura Babcock – a friend of Millard.
Babcock was last seen in July 2012. Her disappearance was investigated by police but officers were unable to find her. The investigation was reopened shortly after Millard’s arrest in connection to the death of Tim Bosma in May.
Millard, along with Mark Smich, was charged with first-degree murder in connection to the murder of Bosma, whose remains were found badly burned on Millard’s farm.
Millard bought the farm in 2011 for $835,000. A rundown barn is the only structure on the property which is mostly empty, according to the real estate agent which brokered the deal for Millard.
RELATED: Complete coverage of the Tim Bosma murder case
The arrest of Millard led Toronto Police to his Ayr, Ontario farm in May – but nothing was found.
However, police told Global News that new information has led them back to the farm. It’s unclear how long their current investigation will continue.
WATCH: Raw video of police search at Dellen Millard’s farm
Laura’s uncle, Thomas Ryan, took the day off work and watched police as they combed Millard’s farm for evidence.
“When your niece is on the news, front page, it’s difficult to go to work,” he said. “It’s sickening, it’s absolutely sickening, it’s a nightmare to think that your family might be buried in the ground somewhere.”
Ryan said he last saw his niece about a month before she disappeared. She was looking for a place to live and was on good terms with her family.
Despite not having seen his niece for 15 months, Ryan said his entire family is trying to remain optimistic and suggests few updates from police may be a silver living.
“Them not knowing, not having any evidence of anything is a positive sign,” he said. “To me that just reaffirms that she’s out doing her own thing in another city, she doesn’t know we’re looking for her.”
No charges have been laid in connection to the disappearance of Babcock.
Millard’s next court appearance is Thursday.
– With files from Lama Nicolas
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