Police search Truro property for evidence in Taylor Samson murder

WATCH ABOVE: For the second day in a row all eyes are on Lower Truro, N.S., where police investigators have been combing a large property for evidence is the murder of a Dalhousie university student. Global’s Natasha Pace has the latest.

TRURO, N.S. — Colchester Ground Search & Rescue have been called in to help police comb a large rural property in Lower Truro, N.S. Investigators are looking for any evidence they can find related to the murder of Taylor Samson.

“In general terms, a warrant like this, it would allow us to search the property itself, including any residences, any vehicles and any out buildings, which would be things like sheds and barns and that type of thing,” said Theresa Rath, Halifax Regional Police.

So far, police have not been able to locate Samson’s body. “That continues to be a focus of our investigation and we are hopeful that we can locate his remains,” said Rath.

Samson, a 22-year-old Dalhousie University student, was last seen in the 6000-block of South Street in Halifax on Saturday, Aug. 15. Despite the lack of a body, investigators laid first degree murder charges against William Michael Sandeson, 22, last week. The Lower Truro property police are currently searching is owned by the Sandeson family.

Those who know Will Sandeson are shocked by the allegations. “I couldn’t believe it really,” said Rodney Burgess. “I expected that would be the last person really involved with anything that serious.”

Burgess says Sandeson was looking forward to starting medical school and is very athletic.  “Our young fella used to go to school with him, play basketball with him, soccer and he took a little kickboxing and stuff like that,” said Burgess.

Police won’t say what, if any, evidence they’ve found so far at the scene. They do say it will likely take some time to thoroughly search the area.

“We do anticipate being there for a number of days because of the terrain. First of all, it’s a very large area, but it’s also a diverse terrain, it’s cornfields, rolling hills, wooded area, essentially it’s a typical Nova Scotia rural area,” said Rath.

Anyone with information about Taylor Samson’s homicide is asked to contact Halifax Regional Police or Crimestoppers.