Dalhousie Medical Student Charged with First-Degree Murder in Death of Fellow Student

This article originally appeared on VICE Canada.

A Dalhousie University student is accused of murdering a fellow student who went missing over the weekend.

Halifax police have charged William Sandeson, 22, with first-degree murder in relation to the death of 22-year-old Taylor Samson.

Sandeson appeared in court Thursday; his case was put over until September 2, according to Global News.

Samson was last seen leaving his home on the night of August 15. He was reported missing the following day but investigators later ruled his disappearance a homicide. His body has not been found.

Police arrested Sandeson, a first-year medical student due to start school on Monday, outside a house on Leaman Drive in Dartmouth Tuesday evening. They later searched an address on Henry Street—reportedly Sandeson's—where they believe the murder took place.

"This was not a random act as Taylor Samson and William Sandeson knew one another," police said in a media release. They have not said how they believe Samson was killed.

Samson, a physics student, allegedly left his house to make a drug deal the night he was killed, according to court documents obtained by Global News.

In the Information to Obtain a Search Warrant for an address at 6093 South St., Samson's fraternity house and the last place he was seen alive, police reportedly stated they believed they would find marijuana inside relating to the investigation.

Samson allegedly left the home with a black duffle bag full of weed and his cell phone Saturday night.

"Samson seemed nervous about it since it was 4 pounds, a larger amount of marijuana than usual," reads the document, quoted in Global News.

"Samson did not know this new 'client' as he was introduced through a regular client of Samson's…making him very nervous."

According to the Information to Obtain a Search Warrant, Halifax police said they believe Samson was the victim of a "drug rip."

"We are comfortable with the fact that the investigation, once it goes through the court process, will show how in fact our victim, Mr. Samson, was murdered, where he was murdered at, and the manner that that took place," Acting Inspector Tom Townsend with HRP/RCMP Integrated Criminal Investigations Division told Global News.

In a statement posted to its website, Dalhousie said it was "devastated" by the news.

"Our thoughts are with Taylor's family and friends and the loss they have suffered. We have support and counseling available for students."

Halifax police did not return calls for comment.

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