Detectives renew search for missing mum Samantha Murphy in Ballarat

Samantha Murphy was completing her regular morning run through a park near Ballarat in February last year when she vanished.

Police will spend a second day in a renewed search for missing mum Samantha Murphy, who disappeared while going for a run in Ballarat in February last year.

Specialist detectives carried out a targeted search of Enfield State Park – about 30km south of Ballarat, where the mum was last seen – on Wednesday.

Nothing new was found during Thursday’s search, but officers are expected to be out again on Friday.

The mother of three, 51, vanished while completing her morning run through the Canadian State Forest about 7am on February 4, 2024.

There is a fresh search for missing mum Samantha Murphy.

In March 2024, 23-year-old Patrick Orren Stephenson was charged with Ms Murphy’s murder.

He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court on April 8.

Police have conducted numerous searches in the Ballarat region since Ms Murphy’s disappearance, including the bushland of the Enfield State Park, Canadian State Forest and Buninyong Bushland Reserve.

In May 2024, detectives recovered Ms Murphy’s phone from the bank of a dam near Slaughterhouse Road on the outskirts of Ballarat.

Police and SES volunteers continue the search for Samantha Murphy in Enfield State Park. Picture: NewsWire /Mark Stewart

Search teams combed through Enfield State Park in a renewed search to find Samantha Murphy. Picture: NewsWire /Mark Stewart

Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Bob Hill told the media search teams were combing the bushland. 

“Closure is required for the family, for the loved ones,” Deputy Commissioner Hill said.

He said police had searched in the Ballarat area before but to no avail.

SES crews joined the search at Enfield State Park. Picture: NewsWire /Mark Stewart

Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Bob Hill said police would search bushland in the Enfield State Park. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

“We will continue to focus on that investigation until we get a resolution,” he said.

“This is another search that is based on more intelligence that would indicate that we need to conduct more work in that area.

“We will continue our focus in that area.”

On Wednesday night, detectives from the Missing Persons Squad confirmed the renewed search.

Police received intelligence that led them to search the area. Picture: NewsWire /Mark Stewart

Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Bob Hill said Samantha Murphy’s family and loved ones needed closure as a new search for her continued. Picture: NewsWire /Mark Stewart

“Since February 2024, police have regularly undertaken a range of inquiries and small-scale searches as part of the current investigation,” a statement read.

“We are not in a position to supply further specific details of today’s operational activity at this time.”
Members of the public have been advised to not assist with the search.