Link between Samantha Murphy and her alleged killer revealed

A link has been established between missing mother Samantha Murphy and her accused killer Patrick Orren Stephenson.

A link has been established between missing mother Samantha Murphy and her alleged killer.

The mother-of-three worked in the uniform shop of St Francis Xavier Primary School as a volunteer.

Her accused murderer, Patrick Orren Stephenson, attended the school as a child while Ms Murphy also worked there, 7News reports.

Police had previously stated that Ms Murphy and Mr Stephenson had never met despite living nearby.

Mr Stephenson is a similar age to Ms Murphy’s oldest child, daughter Jess.

He was arrested at a home in Scotsburn on Wednesday, 16 kilometres from Ballarat, where Ms Murphy lived.

It is believed Mr Stephenson was house-sitting the property with his girlfriend when police swarmed the area at 6.30am.

Victoria Police have seized a ute belonging to Mr Stephenson as part of their investigation.

The home in which Patrick Stephenson was arrested. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Mr Stephenson's ute has been seized by police. (Picture: 9News)

The month-long investigation into Ms Murphy’s disappearance culminated with Mr Stephenson, 22, being charged with murder on Thursday.

Mr Stephenson, an electrician, is the son of former Geelong and Richmond player Orren Stephenson.

Police described Mr Stephenson’s alleged actions as a “deliberate attack”.

Ms Murphy’s disappearance shocked the community and quickly became one of the most high-profile missing persons investigations in Victoria, capturing international attention.

Police are continuing to look for the 51-year-old’s body.

Despite extensive searches of bushland over the past five weeks, not a single trace of her has been found.

Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton urged the public to come forward with “even the slightest bit of information”.

The mum-of-three was last seen leaving her Eureka Street home in Ballarat, a Central Highlands city in Victoria, about 7am on Sunday, February 4, to go for a 14km run through the nearby Woowookarung Regional Park.

Patrick Orren Stephenson has been charged with the murder of Samantha Murphy.

The murder charge follows his arrest on Wednesday.

“We’ve had amazing assistance in terms of intelligence reports being made,” Mr Patton said.

“But anyone who has any information, even the slightest bit of information that they think might not be that relevant, please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“Any little clue could be vital in helping us locate her body.”

Without commenting on the specifics of the current case, Criminologist Xanthe Mallet said people who commit crimes of “this nature” generally commit them in areas where they feel comfortable.

“We call it a comfort zone and so the police will be taking all of that into consideration,” she told Today.

“Somewhere where they are going to feel confident and comfortable to commit a criminal act.

“The police have been working very hard to find Samantha’s remains, not only for the investigation, but also obviously for Samantha’s family.”

Murdered Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy in CCTV footage from the morning she went missing.

Police are still searching for her body.

Commissioner Patton said “painstaking detective work” over the past month led them to lay murder charges this week.

“He’s been located through a range of investigative outcomes that have come together and as you are aware we have been pinging phones and following up on investigation reports from members of the public,” he said.

“We have done ground searches, we have done door knocks so it’s a whole range of information that has come together.

“It has resulted from painstaking detective work with greater assistance from the public.”

The Ballarat community came together for a vigil in Eureka Gardens on Friday night to honour Ms Murphy’s life.

Ms Murphy’s husband Mick, 51, spoke outside his Ballarat East 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 told reporters, explaining that it was a “relief” to see charges laid.

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

“It is (a relief). Definitely. It’s like something has just let the pressure valve off sort of thing. It hasn’t been a good near on five weeks. Anyway, we’re doing as good as we can. Keeping a brave face.”

Mr Murphy said his family was “doing the best we can under the circumstances”.