Missing persons unit take over search for Samantha Murphy

Police hold “significant concerns” for missing mum Samantha Murphy as authorities appear to be changing tack in the investigation.

Police have shed light on the challenging terrain authorities have faced in the search for a missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy, with rugged land hiding old mine shafts pockmarking the area.

Victoria’s missing persons squad officially took control of the effort to locate mother Ms Murphy, six days since she vanished on Sunday after going out for a morning jog.

The 51-year-old was last seen by her family as she left her home on Eureka St, Ballarat East, for a run at 7am on Sunday morning.

Crews have searched the Canadian State Forest and Mount Helen areas over the past four days, using mounted officers and police dogs to hunt for signs of Ms Murphy.

It has also been revealed that CCTV footage put out by the police, which was thought to have shown Ms Murphy going for a jog before her disappearance, is actually of a different woman.

Shortly before midday Friday, Victoria Police confirmed the missing persons unit would be taking charge of investigations.

Police are appealing for help finding Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her Eureka St for a run in Canadian State Forest. Picture: Supplied

While not categorically ruling out foul play, a midday update from police confirmed homicide units have not been tasked to the case.

“We haven’t ruled out anything – the focus is finding her,” Victoria Police Inspector Bob Heaney said.

He said areas being scoured by emergency services and volunteers were covered with mine shafts and dense bushland.

“It’s a challenging area and terrain that’s in the area of the search operation and there is a lot of unused mines and some waterways in the area as well,” Insp Heany said.

“There’s also some really thick and rugged bush terrain.”

He said police were particularly keen for people to check their dashcams if they were in the areas of interest from 7am onwards on February 4 – the day Ms Murphy went missing – as the area’s remoteness meant there was little CCTV available.

Insp Heany added that Ms Murphy was “mentally and physically” fit and a habitual jogger in rough terrain who could run over 15km at a time.

Victoria Police Inspector Bob Heaney. Picture: ABC

Crime command detective acting superintendent Mark Hatt. Picture: ABC

Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt from Victoria Police’s Crime Command added later Friday morning that there are still major concerns for the missing mum, despite there being “nothing immediate to indicate there is anything sinister behind Samantha’s disappearance”.

“We still have a number of avenues of enquiry to pursue, and the search to try and locate her is ongoing today,” he said.

“I also think it’s important that people avoid unnecessary and unhelpful speculation. However, it is especially concerning that we have now gone six days without any contact from her or any potential sightings.”

Superintendent Hatt said police were working with telecoms specialists to find the locations Ms Murphy may have travelled to.

“That will be a huge part of our investigation. Digging into the background, working out Samantha’s movements in the days leading up to her disappearance,” he said.

“And also the people that knew her.”

It’s thought Ms Murphy was travelling with her phone and a smartwatch, however, police remain tight-lipped on what, if anything, those items have yielded.

Samantha’s husband Mick Murphy and daughter Jess Murphy, speak to media outside Ballarat West Police Station. Picture: NCA Newswire / Nicki Connolly

‘Come home soon’: Daughter’s plea

On Thursday, Ms Murphy’s daughter Jess fought back tears as she spoke publicly for the first time since her mum vanished.

She urged the Ballarat community to not lose hope in the search for her mum.

“Mum’s a really strong woman and she’s far too determined to give up this fight,” she said.

Jess faced the media outside Ballarat West Police Station.

“I know she’s out there somewhere, so if you could please continue to search for her and give us something to work with we’d really appreciate it,” she said.

“Mum we love you so much and we miss you … please come home soon.”

Her father Michael Murphy comforted her by stroking her back as she struggled to get the message out through her tears.

Jess continued: “I can’t wait to see you and to give you the biggest hug when I do.”

“And to tell you off for giving us so much stress. I love you,” she said.

SES volunteers look for clues near Buninyong as part of a large-scale search for Samantha Murphy who has been missing since early Sunday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Ms Murphy’s husband urged the local community for information.

“People just don’t vanish into thin air. Someone’s got to know something,” Mr Murphy told media.

“Whether it be any little thing that you might think is relevant, just call the police and let them know.

“It’ll give us a bit of peace of mind, some hope.”

The search initially focused on the Canadian Forest — where Ms Murphy told her husband she was heading out on her regular 20km run — but this was thrown into disarray on Wednesday as a three second CCTV clip, which police believed to show Ms Murphy, was found.

The footage captured a person running past a house on Eureka St towards Yankee Flat Road, in the opposite direction of the forest, at 7.16am.

However, a member of the community later came forward and revealed herself as the woman in the video, meaning it was unrelated to the investigation

Mum’s friend slams one theory

A close friend of Ms Murphy has spoken out after the mother-of-three seemingly vanished.

Paula Heenan, a friend of more than 20 years, told the Herald Sun there is “no way” Ms Murphy is eluding search efforts.

The devoted mother of three was deeply committed to her children, Ms Heenan said, and it would be her nature to return.

“There’s no way that she would consciously not be trying to get back,” she said.

“Every fibre of her being would be trying to get back to her children.

“There’s no way she would leave them or (not do) everything in her power (to come back).”

Sissy Austin, 29, was viciously attacked while running near Ballarat last year.

She was left bloodied and bruised after a man viciously attacked her while she was on a run in Lal Lal State Forest near Ballarat.

‘Unruly men’ trouble searchers

Jogger Sissy Austin, who was brutally attacked in Lal Lal State Forest, near Ballarat, last year, revealed the vulnerability of female members of the search party to harassment by “unruly men.”

Ms Austin, 29, stated: “It’s hard. There’s been a few unruly men out in the forest.”

She has joined the search and remains optimistic about finding Ms Murphy, asserting: “There’s 110 per cent hope that we’ll bring Sam home.”

Ms Austin previously highlighted the unsafe environment for female runners in the area.

“Sam going missing on a run is a second major trauma ... I acknowledge the deep anxiety being felt by female runners in the Ballarat community right now,” she previously told news.com.au.

Originally published as Missing persons unit take over search for Samantha Murphy