The Northwest Territories Major Crimes Unit has charged an Inuvik man with murder in connection with the disappearance of 27-year-old Jovan Sandhu, who was last seen in early August near the Tsiigehtchic ferry crossing.
Arrest and charge
In a news release, the RCMP said investigators laid a charge of murder against 40-year-old Waylon Storr. Storr was arrested on Oct. 16 and was scheduled to appear in court in Yellowknife on Tuesday.
Timeline of events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug. 7 | Sandhu was last seen at the Tsiigehtchic ferry crossing. |
| Aug. 9 | Sandhu was reported missing to RCMP. |
| Shortly after Aug. 9 | Police and local search and rescue groups conducted a major search, focusing on the Mackenzie River area around Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic. |
| Oct. 16 | Storr was arrested by RCMP. |
Search efforts and evidence
Days after Sandhu was reported missing, RCMP and community search and rescue teams carried out what the police described as a "
significant search operation" in the Mackenzie River in the vicinity of Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic. Despite those efforts, Sandhu's body was not recovered.
The RCMP said investigators with the Major Crimes Unit located evidence sufficient to support the murder charge against Storr. The force has not disclosed further details about the evidence or the alleged circumstances of Sandhu's death.
Community impact
The disappearance and subsequent murder charge have reverberated through Inuvik and neighbouring communities. Incidents of this nature are particularly acute in smaller Northern towns where police resources are more limited and community connections are close-knit.
Local search and rescue volunteers often play a central role in missing-person operations in the North, mobilizing quickly across challenging terrain and waterways. The RCMP's reliance on those groups underscores both the value of community responders and the logistical hurdles of searches on the Mackenzie River system.
What is known and what remains unclear
- Known: The identities of the victim (Jovan Sandhu) and the accused (Waylon Storr), dates of last sighting (Aug. 7) and missing-person report (Aug. 9), the location of the last sighting (Tsiigehtchic ferry crossing), the arrest date (Oct. 16) and the scheduled court appearance in Yellowknife.
- Unknown: The RCMP has not released details about the alleged motive, how investigators connected Storr to Sandhu's disappearance, or the precise nature of the evidence that led to the murder charge. Sandhu's body has not been recovered.
Next steps
The matter will proceed through the territorial court system in Yellowknife. Criminal proceedings can take weeks or months to unfold; charges must be tested in court and disclosure provided to the defence. The RCMP indicated only that Storr will appear in court on the scheduled date.
As this is an active investigation, the RCMP has asked anyone with information relevant to Sandhu's disappearance or to the case to contact the Major Crimes Unit. For residents in small communities, sharing information with investigators can be a critical part of ensuring a fair and complete process.
This office will continue to follow the case and report further developments, including any additional charges, court rulings, or public statements from the RCMP or the accused's legal representatives.
