Police to search Mount Clear in hunt for missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy
Police are investigating whether missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy was killed, and her body removed from the nature reserve where she set out for a morning run nearly three weeks ago.
Victoria
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Police are investigating whether missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy was killed, and her body removed from the nature reserve where she set out for a morning run nearly three weeks ago.
Investigators on Friday revealed multiple people could be behind Ms Murphy’s disappearance, with new mobile phone data prompting a fresh search effort in Mt Clear, about 6km south of Ballarat.
Ms Murphy, a mother-of-two, has not been seen since she set off on a 14-km run from her Eureka St home in Ballarat East about 7am on February 4.
Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt said it was unlikely investigators would find Ms Murphy alive.
He said Ms Murphy’s disappearance could involve one or more parties, with detectives probing the possibility that they could have moved her body.
“We do think that another party has been involved whether it be one person or a number of people,” he said.
“Unfortunately, given the time and the fact that we’ve found no trace of her, we do have severe concerns and are very doubtful that she’s still alive.
“We have ruled out that she suffered any kind of medical episode and we have no information to suggest she left the area on her own accord.
“We’re looking at absolutely everything and every possible scenario.”
While Ms Murphy’s husband Michael is not being treated as a suspect, investigators are probing the financial status of the family’s vehicle repair business and are treating everyone Ms Murphy knew as a person of interest.
“We will look into absolutely every avenue of inquiry and we will continue to do so until we find some answers,” Supt Hatt said.
“Everyone in relation to Samantha is a person of interest in our investigation. We are speaking to everyone that was in her life … So that would include family, friends and work colleagues.
“We have a number of people we are speaking to and I can say that the family have been absolutely fantastic in co-operating with police.”
Police again scoured bushland in Woowookarung Regional Park, formerly known as the Canadian State Forest, on Friday morning, where the beloved mother was known to run regularly.
Forensic detectives could be seen inspecting the terrain for any sign of Ms Murphy’s phone and Apple Watch, as well as for smaller clues such as footprints.
Up to 40 searchers paced slowly through thick bushland, stopping to collect samples of grass, tree sap and leaves.
The Missing Persons Squad called in reinforcements from a slew of detectives from areas such as counter terrorism and sex crimes because they specialised in “long term” investigations”.
The Mt Clear area had been the focus of a previous search, as well as areas of interest across Buninyong, Scotchmans Lead, Brown Hill and Black Hill, but found no trace of the missing woman.
Investigators previously reported uncovering data from Murphy’s phone behind the Buninyong Golf Club, 10km from her home.
Ms Murphy likely reached the Mt Clear area within an hour of leaving her home.
Police are also investigating sightings of several vehicles seen in the Ballarat area after Ms Murphy vanished, but would not be drawn on their make or model, or their exact locations.
Meanwhile, it is understood search warrants have been carried out at several properties.
Supt Hatt said the ongoing wait for answers about what happened to Ms Murphy has devastated her family.
“Obviously (they are) very upset,” he said.
“As time goes on the chances of finding Samantha are more limited, so they are very, very distraught.”
Mr Murphy previously told the Herald Sun that public support had helped an “extraordinary” search effort.
“We (would) like to thank each and every person that has donated their time for searching for Sam,” he said.
“I hope we can find something soon.”
Investigators are combing through more than 12,000 hours worth of CCTV that could help piece together Ms Murphy’s final movements, while more than 500 tip-offs about her disappearance have flooded in from the public.
Supt Hatt said: “It’s our number one investigation at present”.
Police are continuing to ask for the public to send them any relevant information and CCTV.
“Finally, it’s important that people continue to avoid unnecessary and unhelpful speculation because we don’t want that to detract from the genuine investigation or potentially prevent anyone coming forward with information because they have a misconception about what has happened to Samantha,” Superintendent Hatt previously said.
“Police remain open to any and all possibilities, so if you know something or have seen something, then we want to hear from you.”
Members of the community joined in the search at the national park alongside police.
Tori Baxter, who will help lead locals on an additional search of the Ballarat area on Saturday, called on the public to assist their efforts at the weekend.
Ms Baxter said a group of searchers comprised of members of the public have been conducting regular searches in the hopes of finding something related to Ms Murphy that could assist police, with another community led search planned for the weekend.
Experienced bush tracker Jake Cassar also joined the search for Ms Murphy and will help leas the community search on Saturday.
In 2021, Mr Cassar helped locate three-year-old AJ Elfalak in bushland in NSW.
The renewed search effort comes after police and emergency crews scaled back their search for Ms Murphy on February 9.
The Homicide Squad is not at this stage involved in the ongoing investigation.
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