‘Without a trace’: Eight key questions in search for missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy

As the investigation into missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy wears on, we look at some of the key questions police are likely now focused on — 11 days after she disappeared without a trace.

As the investigation into missing Ballarat mother-of-three Samantha Murphy wears on, we look at some of the key questions police are likely concentrating on in their bid to find the 51-year-old who disappeared — seemingly without a trace — after leaving her home for a jog, 11 days ago.

1. Why there is ‘no trace’ of Samantha

Ballarat mother of three Samantha Murphy.

On Wednesday, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said while there were no developments, the case was “unusual” and “suspicious”.

“We keep saying it’s not suspicious but when someone’s been missing for this period of time and we have no trace, well clearly, there must be some suspicions there because we haven’t been able to locate her,” he said.

“It’s certainly unusual when we haven’t been able to locate any trace of her or any other evidence within that period of time and so obviously having Missing Persons involved, it’s suspicious, whether it means there’s foul play involved or not, I don’t know.

“But obviously, detectives are investigating a matter where a woman’s been missing for a significant period of time … call it unusual, call it suspicious, but it certainly is of significant concern to us and so traumatic for the family, so traumatic for her friends.”

2. What clues her devices can provide

An Apple Watch 9 displaying blood-oxygen level detection settings. Picture: AFP

Ms Murphy, 51, was last seen leaving her Eureka St, Ballarat East, home about 7am on February 4, as she set out for a long run in the Woowookarung Regional Park.

She was reportedly carrying her phone and wearing a smartwatch with GPS capabilities.

Police have confirmed her mobile phone pinged at a telecommunications tower 11km from her home after she went jogging.

The Herald Sun also understands Ms Murphy’s watch had an SOS function and a “fall detection” feature that was likely linked to her phone.

If a phone is turned off, it is difficult to track as it stops sending signals to cell towers, but if it is switched back on, the service or internet provider can see its last location. If the phone has no cell service or connection, mapping apps can track its location through GPS.

The Herald Sun understands fresh information from metadata led to a change in the search’s focus at one point.

3. What CCTV reveals about her movements

Police at the weekend made a public appeal for any additional images or CCTV of Ms Murphy.

“Even if the footage does not depict Samantha, detectives are keen to review all footage in the areas between 7am and 7pm on Sunday, 4 February,” police said in a statement.

“Police previously urged everyone in the Ballarat East and Mount Helen areas, particularly around the Canadian Forest, to check their CCTV for any possible sightings over the past six days, however, would now like to collect all footage.”

Investigators will now focus on piecing together Ms Murphy’s final movements using CCTV capturing the mother on the morning she left home.

“We have literally hundreds of information reports, of obviously very different quality, and we need to wade through all of those and prioritise those, and we’re doing that as quickly as we can,” Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.

“We’ve committed significant additional resources from Crime Command to assist Missing Persons (Squad), because of the CCTV capture, and all of the exploration of where that may be available.”

4. What her computer history shows

Part of the investigation – now dubbed Operation Primus – will see detectives trawl through Ms Murphy’s computers and devices in the hope of finding clues.

5. What ongoing ‘targeted’ searches turn up

The large-scale search for Samantha was wound back. Picture: Ian Wilson

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Missing Persons Squad said investigators were continuing to conduct targeted searches in the Ballarat area. Police had been leading an extensive search for Ms Murphy but on Saturday it was announced it would be scaled back.

“The investigative stage of the investigation continues and as any new information comes to hand identifying areas of interest, the search will be scaled (back) up,” police said.

6. What information family and friends can provide

Samantha’s husband Mick Murphy and daughter Jess Murphy, speak to media outside Ballarat West police station. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Police investigators will have already spoken to family, friends, neighbours and associates of Ms Murphy to glean as much information about her habits, interests and state-of-mind as they possibly can. These conversations can be expected to continue. Family members reported Ms Murphy missing after she failed to arrive for a function scheduled for the morning she disappeared. Police will be keen to learn what they can about Ms Murphy’s relationships with her family, friends and others.

7. If foul play may have been involved

Inside the bushy Woowookarang Regional park. Picture: David Crosling

Earlier on it was a reported a woman claimed to have seen Ms Murphy jogging near the lookout area in Woowookarang Regional Park on the day before she disappeared.

Rebecca Agheli was camping in the bush with her partner, Michael, when they woke at about 6:30am. Ms Agheli said a woman with blonde hair, wearing exercise gear jogged past them at 7am.

“She said ‘good morning’ to Michael as she was jogging,” Ms Agheli said.

Having spent a few days in the area gold detecting and camping, Ms Agheli said felt “uncomfortable” when a man approached her on February 1.

She claims the man walked towards her without saying a word forcing her to call out to her partner, feeling the need for support.

8. If Ballarat’s many mine shafts could be involved

As a historic gold mining region, the Ballarat area has many, many mine shafts, some of which are very deep. Animals, including pet dogs, are known to have fallen down these in the past and needed rescuing.