Accused killer Patrick Orren Stephenson went on a bender night before mum went missing

Associates of Patrick Orren Stephenson, the man accused of murdering missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy, say he went on a bender the night before she was killed.

Associates of accused murderer Patrick Orren Stephenson say the 22-year-old went on a “massive bender” the night before Samantha Murphy was killed.

People close to the charged man have told the Herald Sun he was at a party where cocaine was consumed before attending The Deck in Ballarat, which is open until 3am.

A video appears to show lines of a white substance racked up on a mobile phone.

The footage was filmed by Mr Stephenson’s girlfriend and two other friends with the footage uploaded to social media platform Snapchat.

It is believed police are aware of the video, with detectives also seizing CCTV footage from outside Volta nightclub and several other venues on the night of February 3 and morning of February 4, up to two weeks ago.

Patrick Orren Stephenson at a party.

The video was shared on Snap Chat.

It comes as Victoria Police seized a vehicle after executing three warrants in the Ballarat area on Wednesday.

The vehicle is undergoing forensic testing for any evidence that may be crucial to the murder investigation.

The car was found on a property in Yendon No 2 Road, Scotsburn, which Mr Stephenson had been house sitting at and is where police swooped at 6.30am on Wednesday, neighbours said.

“There were all sorts of cars, they all looked like unmarked police,” one neighbour said.

“It was about 6.30am when I went past… I put two and two together and I said to my wife: ‘I reckon something’s going on, I reckon they were police’.

“And sure enough, later that day (the news of an arrest) was released.”

A Suzuki Jimny — understood to belong to Mr Stephenson’s partner — remained in the driveway of that home on Friday.

The home, a single-storey red brick home with a yellow front door, had its front gates padlocked and blinds drawn.

Mr Stephenson is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Richmond and Geelong between 2012 and 2014

There was an extraordinary gag order on Mr Stephenson’s name, which was overturned at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Friday.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged over the murder of missing, Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy.

The alleged murderer asked his lawyer to withdraw the gag request as greater scrutiny had fallen upon his family.

Defence lawyer David Tamanika said his intention was to “assist” his client, who he claimed was at risk of self-harm.

“The defence intention to assist (Mr Stephenson) has only become far more destructive as a mechanism to the client,” Mr Tamanika told the court.

“It’s for these reasons that the client has instructed me to withdraw the application.”

Mr Tamanika said his attempt to gag the media from reporting his client’s name was not intended to cause any “disrespect or disregard to ... Ms Murphy or her family”.

Following the defence’s dramatic about-face, Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz said she probably wouldn’t have granted the full suppression order they were seeking anyway given the absence of any evidence or credible information as to why it was needed.

“It was very, very, very unlikely that I would have made the proceeding suppression order,” Her Honour said.

An extraordinary gag order on Mr Stephenson’s name was overturned. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr Stephenson, flanked by two guards, was wearing a grey long sleeve crew neck jumper during the short court hearing.

He is accused of murdering Ms Murphy on February 4 – the same day she went missing after setting off on a run about 7am.

One line of inquiry police are pursuing is whether Ms Murphy, a mother of three, was struck by a car after leaving her Eureka Street home at 7am. Police have only said she died as the result of a “deliberate” act.

As of Friday night, her body has not been found.

One seasoned detective said the investigation entered a new phase as soon as Mr Stephenson was arrested.

Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy went missing in early February.

Michael Murphy, husband of missing woman Samantha Murphy, pictured outside his Ballarat home. Picture: Mark Stewart

Previously, the inquiry was covert with little information flowing from those directly investigating.

Even close colleagues were kept in the dark because of the need to keep the suspect unaware he was under scrutiny.

The gossip wildfires surrounding the case would have meant there was a risk even a small detail innocently passed on could reach the wrong ears.

But with detectives showing their hand with Wednesday’s swoop, they are now free to openly make inquiries.

The Ballarat community members will hold a vigil at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park. Picture: Mark Stewart

This would include taking statements from those close to Mr Stephenson and starting to ask questions publicly about his movements on February 3 and 4.

It is understood officers have been surveilling Mr Stephenson for up to two weeks. But the seizure of his vehicle on Wednesday could not have been done earlier because it would have sounded the alarm.

There are suggestions a short piece of CCTV gleaned early on in the investigation was a key element in Mr Stephenson becoming a suspect. He has so far refused to help investigators find Ms Murphy’s body, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.

Mr Stephenson is not known to the Murphy family.

Ms Murphy’s husband Michael Murphy said he was relieved by the arrest and charge.

“God, the adrenaline with everything that’s been going on, it’s just trying to be brave for everybody,” he said.

“It’s something that we wouldn’t want anyone to experience.”

The prosecutor asked for 20 weeks to put together all the evidence in the case.

Mr Stephenson will return to court for a committal mention on August 8.