Inside the hideout of Samantha Murphy’s accused killer Patrick Stephenson

The rural Scotsburn property where Samantha Murphy’s accused murderer Patrick Stephenson was arrested is on the market.

The house where police arrested Samantha Murphy’s accused murderer is on the market.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was staying at a rural Scotsburn property with his girlfriend when he was arrested over the missing mother’s murder on March 6.

It’s understood the single-storey home on Yendon No 2 Rd has been on the market for more than three years. The price tag currently stands between $1m and $1.05m.

The house where police arrested Samantha Murphy’s accused murderer has hit the market. Picture: realestate.com.au

Patrick Stephenson was staying at a rural Scotsburn property with his girlfriend. Picture: realestate.com.au

He was arrested over the missing mother’s murder on March 6. Picture: realestate.com.au

It comes as investigators continue to scour bushland across Mt Buninyong, less than 10km from the home.

Specialist detection dogs were brought in to locate Ms Murphy, who has not been seen since she set off on a run about 7am on February 4.

Investigators remained tight-lipped about potential suspects in the weeks before Mr Stephenson’s arrest at the home in the early hours of the morning.

Ms Murphy’s body has not yet been found.

The 13-acre property where Mr Stephenson and his girlfriend were understood to be house sitting has been described as a “high-quality, four bedroom family home is designed for comfort and functionality, featuring a tastefully renovated galley-style kitchen, a generous lounge room with plenty of natural light, two living areas including a family/rumpus room for shared moments”.

Mr Stephenson and his girlfriend were understood to be house sitting in the 13-acre property.

Ms Murphy’s body has not yet been found. Picture: Mark Stewart

“A school bus passing the front door adds to the convenience for families,” the listing said.

“The property is only four minutes from Buninyong Township with schooling, shops, cafes and sporting facilities. Ballarat is 20 minutes away and access to Geelong and Melbourne is a breeze.”

Listed by McGrath real estate, the four bedroom and two bathroom home is being promoted as a serene country escape in Scotsburn that is “nestled in prime countryside at the foothills of Mt Buninyong”.

The sprawling property also has a large handyman’s shed and an open paddock.

Search crews scoured Mt Buninyong on Wednesday after revealing that fresh intelligence “from a range of sources” led them to the area.

Stephenson’s arrest at the Yendon Rd home comes as another setback to its owner Andrew Lorensene.

Mr Lorensene had been trying to sell the property for more than a year before his tenant’s dramatic arrest.

Listed by McGrath real estate, the home is being promoted as a serene country escape in Scotsburn. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Beckett

Mr Lorensene had been trying to sell the property for more than a year before his tenant’s dramatic arrest. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Beckett

The landlord had years earlier made headlines himself after he opposed the construction of a “skybarrel” property on hills overlooking his property.

He told the Ballarat Courier at the time he was “horrified” when he saw building work begin while its construction was being contested in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

“There’s nobody too happy about it, we have people pulling up outside saying, ‘how the hell did they get up there, I thought it was all closed down until VCAT,” he said.

“It is a high density build on a small part of the property. It’s an in-your-face project.”

Following detectives’ major breakthrough earlier this month, Ms Murphy’s husband Michael told the Herald Sun he hoped Mr Stephenson would lead police to his wife’s body.

“We’d just like some more answers now,” he said at the time.

“We are hoping he has a bit of a change of heart and that he will co-operate. That will help bring her home.”