Missing Dalhousie student Taylor Samson was murdered, say Halifax police

A Halifax university student has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of another student who has been missing since the weekend.

Taylor Samson, a 22-year-old physics student at Dalhousie University, was last seen on Saturday after he left his home in the city's south end to go for a walk around 10:30 p.m.

William Michael Sandeson, a 22-year-old fellow Dalhousie University student, is charged with first-degree murder in Samson's death, Halifax Regional Police said Thursday.

Sandeson was arrested outside a home on Leaman Drive in Dartmouth on Tuesday at around 8:30 p.m.

Further investigation led police to search a home in the 1200 block of Henry Street in Halifax. Court documents listSandeson'saddress as 1210 Henry St. and police say they believe that'swhere Samson was murdered.

The victim's body has not been found.

Sandeson had just been accepted into Dalhousie University's faculty of medicine and was set to start as a first-year med school student on Monday.

According to Sandeson's LinkedIn profile, he worked as a patient attendant at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Science Centre in Halifax. The Truro native was also a runner who represented Nova Scotia at the 2013 Canada Games in Sherbrooke, Que.

Police say the two men knew each other and do not believe the homicide is a random act.

Dalhousie University said both students lived off campus.

"Dalhousie is devastated by this news. Our thoughts are with Taylor's family and friends and the loss they have suffered," the school said in a statement released Thursday.

Neighbour shocked

TrevorBuchan, also a student at Dalhousie University,lives near the home on Henry Street. He said police canvassed the area earlier this week.

He said he was in his living room the night of the alleged murder.

"I didn't hear anything or see anything weird. I actually didn't know about it until police came two days later and questioned me," he said.

Buchansays many people came and went from 1210 Henry St., but he never thought anything of it.He says it's a student area, with people coming and going all the time.

Hedoesn't knowSandeson, but says the situation is unsettlingand he feels terrible for the victim's family.

"It's crazy how close it is to my house, you never think that it's going to happen around you."