Police call off renewed search for missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy

Police have provided an update on in the renewed search for Victorian woman Samantha Murphy, who has been missing since February.

A week of targeted surveys with specialist police and searchers has been unsuccessful in the hunt for missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.

Dozens of police, specialist search crews and officers from interstate scoured rugged and damp terrain near Ballarat this week, using horses, dogs and motorbikes.

The search party also had the prospect of unmapped mine shafts to contend with.

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing Ballarat East woman Samantha.

About 45 trained officials joined the search effort this week, starting a renewed push on Tuesday. However, the search has not resumed on Friday.

The search concluded on Thursday and investigations were ongoing, a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

Police on horseback and motorbikes were part of the search contingent this week. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

The mother-of-three was last seen going for a jog on February 4.

A month later 23-year-old Patrick Stephenson was arrested and charged with murder. He has fronted court twice so far.

Since Ms Murphy was last seen, police have searched various areas in the Ballarat region.

The search area has been south of Ballarat. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

This week Inspector Dave Dunstan said police had been looking at different areas within a 3km radius of rugged terrain on-and-off for the past six weeks.

The terrain and bad weather have hindered the search and various times.

“The danger is there are a lot of mines here as well and that’s one of the reasons we’ve brought out search and rescue,” he told media on Wednesday.