Fresh search for Samantha Murphy’s body to focus on Buninyong Bushland Reserve

A fresh search for the body of alleged murder victim Samantha Murphy will begin today as police target areas “highlighted by intelligence” from several sources.

A fresh search for the body of alleged murder victim Samantha Murphy will begin today as police target areas “highlighted by intelligence” from several sources.

Ms Murphy, 51, was last seen alive leaving her Ballarat East home on February 4 to exercise in nearby national parkland.

After weeks of intensive but unsuccessful searching, Victoria Police this month charged 22-year-old Patrick Orren Stephenson with her murder.

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Samantha Murphy was reported missing by her family after failing to return from a jog.

On Wednesday, officers will focus on select parts of the Buninyong Bushland Reserve as they begin a renewed search for the mother’s remains.

Victoria Police said today’s search would “focus on trying to locate Samantha’s body”.

Members of the public have been urged not to join the search efforts.

The focus area is located about 10k away from where Ms Murphy was believed to have gone running near Mount Clear. Picture: Google Maps

“While someone has been charged in relation to Samantha’s disappearance, we remain committed to doing everything we can to locate her and return her to her family,” Detective Superintendent Mark Hatt said.

The search will be conducted by specialist units including the Missing Persons Squad, Search and Rescue Squad, Mounted Branch, Dog Squad, Public Order Response Team and motorcyclists from Road Policing Command and local police.

Police will search bushland in the Buninyong area today. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Wilson

It follows extensive operations in the Canadian Forest area since Ms Murphy vanished.

“Since Samantha’s disappearance, extensive searches have been conducted in the Ballarat area and today we will focus on an area of bushland in Buninyong,” Detective Supt Hatt said.

“We will have a range of specialist resources involved, however as we are searching for Samantha’s body, we ask that members of the public do not try and join today’s search.

“Hopefully today’s search will benefit the investigation or provide further avenues of enquiry for police. We will also look at further searches in the Ballarat area as the investigation progresses.”

Patrick Orren Stephenson was charged over the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

Police allege he killed her in a “deliberate attack”.

Mr Stephenson was charged with the mother-of-three’s murder on March 6 and was refused bail at Ballarat Magistrate’s Court.

His identity was briefly suppressed by the court out of fears for his safety but the order was successfully challenged by media.

Police allege the Scotsburn man, who is the son of a former AFL player Orren Stephenson, killed Ms Muprhy in a “deliberate attack”.

He will next face court on August 8.

Ms Murphy’s husband Mick spoke to reporters outside the family’s Eureka St home after the murder charge was announced.

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

“It’s something you wouldn’t want anybody to experience.”