Michael Murphy: ‘I need to be strong myself and look after everyone around me’

Two months after his wife vanished without a trace, Michael Murphy says he still searches for her body every day as he awaits updates from police.

Two months after his wife vanished without a trace, the husband of murdered woman Samantha Murphy said he misses her every day and holds out faith her body will be found.

Michael Murphy, 51, told the Herald Sun he was trying to stay in good spirits, checking in with police weekly in the hope there was some “good news”.

There has been little development since investigators arrested and charged 22-year-old Patrick Stephenson with Samantha’s murder almost one month ago.

Michael Murphy says he is trying to stay in good spirits. Picture: Mark Stewart

Having previously labelled detectives working on the case as “the best in the business”, Mr Murphy said he understood the investigation would be drawn out as long as Mr Stephenson stayed quiet.

“This whole scenario takes a long time,” he said.

“It’s not a fast procedure.”

Mr Murphy is holding out faith his wife’s body will be found.

Mr Stephenson is set to face Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on August 8.

Thursday marked two months since Samantha was last seen, captured on CCTV in the driveway of her Ballarat East home as she embarked on a morning run around Woowookarung Regional Park.

Having failed to return home later that morning, the alarm was sounded and the Murphy family was left to fear the worst.

During the first week of Samantha’s disappearance, emergency services and Ballarat locals combined to pore over an expansive search area.

Patrick Stephenson, 22, has been charged with murdering Samantha Murphy.

Mr Murphy said he had been searching for Samantha every day since she had gone missing, and while he was too emotional to speak further on the matter, added that “nothing was going to bring her back”.

On Saturday, the Murphy family had to celebrate Samantha’s birthday without her.

“It’s the first things, the first birthday without Sam … any anniversaries without Sam.

“That’s a hard thing but we’ve gotta face reality and realise she’s just not coming back,” he said.

Samantha Murphy would have turned 52 on Saturday.

He said he and his family were trying to move on with their everyday lives, adding it was all about looking after one another as they navigate life without Samantha.

“I need to be strong myself and look after everyone around me,” he said.

Having been unable to return to work, Mr Murphy said he could still smile and laugh despite the horror few weeks he and his family had endured.

Members of the Ballarat community, who haven’t given up hope of finding Samantha, are organising searches months on from her disappearance.

A spokesperson for the local group, the Ground Crew, offered the Murphy family their continued support and commitment to help find Sam.

“We haven’t given up and we have a very large community of people who want nothing more than for Samantha to be reunited to her family and laid to rest,” the spokesperson said.

Continuing to organise strategically planned searches, the Ground Crew spokesperson said the group had been liaising with authorities and was mindful not to disturb any potential evidence if found.

Anyone who has any information in relation to the investigation and search for Samantha is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.