Investigation ongoing six months after Samantha Murphy’s disappearance

The investigation into the disappearance of Samantha Murphy has reached a tragic milestone after the mum vanished while running near her home.

It’s been six months since Samantha Murphy failed to return home from a run and although a man has been charged with her murder, her body has not been found.

Ms Murphy was last seen alive on February 4 when she left to go for a morning run through the Woowookarung Regional Park, known as the Canadian State Forest.

The 51-year-old mother of three had left her Ballarat home on Eureka St about 7am for a 14km run, but her concerned family called police after she failed to return home.

Samantha Murphy was last seen leaving her Eureka St home for a run in the Canadian State Forest on February 4.

Samantha Murphy and her husband, Michael Murphy.

Police believed she’d reached the Mount Clear area, adjacent to the park, about an hour after leaving her house.

Despite extensive searches, Ms Murphy has not been seen since she vanished.

Police allege she was murdered by Patrick Orren Stephenson, a 22-year-old man who is not believed to have been known to Ms Murphy.

He has not entered pleas and is expected to appear at Ballarat Magistrates Court on August 8.

Police allege he acted alone, and investigators are still searching for Ms Murphy’s body.

“He has been charged with murder so, by definition, we are saying this was a deliberate attack on Samantha,” Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said in March.

The dam next to Bunningyoung-Mt Mercer Road, south of Ballarat, where police found Ms Murphy’s phone. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Victoria Police confirmed on Monday that the investigation into Ms Murphy’s disappearance remains ongoing, and that a phone found during a search in Buninyong did belong to the missing woman.

There have been no further updates in the case.

Ms Murphy’s husband, Michael Murphy, said he had contacted police after his wife didn’t answer her phone, and began searching nearby bushland.

“On that particular day, I was outside and thought ‘she’ll be coming up the road pretty soon’,” he told 9 News in April.

“Then she didn’t.”

Mr Murphy said he wouldn’t rest until his wife was found, and that he “wouldn’t wish (it) on anybody”.

Mr Murphy reportedly met his wife at a pub in Gordon, near Geelong.

“(She) was kind, caring, loyal and would always offer to help anyone at any time,” he told 9 News in April.

“You won’t hear a bad word about her, she was a good mother, caring and always providing for everybody.

“She was always smiling and happy and we want people to remember Sam for who she was. Anyone who knows her knows what she’s like.”

Mr Murphy teared up, then added: “It’s hard for someone so good to be gone (from) the community.”

Michael Murphy urged people to “speak up” if they see something that’s “not right” in April at a snap rally against men’s violence in Ballarat. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Samantha’s husband Michael Murphy and their daughter Jess Murphy spoke to media outside Ballarat West Police Station in February. Picture: NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Mr Murphy also spoke at a snap rally against men’s violence in Ballarat in April after three women from the regional city were killed within just two months. The victims were his wife, Hannah McGuire and Rebecca Young.

He urged people to “speak up” if they see something that’s “not right”, and thanked the community for attending the rally to support the three women.

The Ballarat community gathered in March to honour Ms Murphy’s life at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Garden.

Many laid flowers at the vigil while a book was available for people to record their condolences.

Ballarat MP Catherine King, Eureka MP Michaela Settle, and Wendouree MP Juliana Addison also paid their respects at the emotional vigil.

Mourners gathered in the Garden at a vigil for Samantha Murphy in Ballarat. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tamati Smith

Always searching for her – National Missing Persons Week 

The six-month mark of Ms Murphy’s disappearance comes during National Missing Persons Week, which has selected the theme of “Always searching for her” this year.

Under the tagline, the Australian Federal Police are looking to shine a light on women missing for more than three months (long-term missing) following increased community attention on violence against women.

AFP Commander Forensics Joanne Cameron said it’s difficult to comment on how likely it is to find people after they’ve been classed as long-term missing, as people have been found after decades of searching.

Ms Murphy is one of 2500 people classified as long-term missing.

“The reason that might be is people have come forward, or people have finally decided that they’ve held information and they’ve shared it … I can also speak strongly to the advances in technology that are occurring,” she said.

More than 2500 people in Australia remain long-term missing, and the Australian Federal Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

“No matter how small the detail may be, it could be the missing piece of the puzzle that brings peace to the family of a missing person,” Ms Cameron said.