’Kidnapped’: New ‘clue’ sparks hope in case of missing mum

A team of experts have joined the search for missing mum Samantha Murphy, shedding new insight on the case.

A team of experts have shed new light on the case of missing mum Samantha Murphy.

The mother-of-three, 51 left her Eureka Street home in Ballarat on February 4 to go on a run in the Woowookarung Regional Park.

Despite major search efforts by the missing persons squad, specialist commands and hundreds of Ballarat locals, Ms Murphy has not been seen since.

Former Victorian detective Damian Marrett, criminal psychologist Dr Peter Ashkar, missing persons specialist Valentine Smith and cyber expert Nigel Phair have joined forces for Channel Nine show Under Investigation.

During the show, which aired on Wednesday night, the panel considered a number of different scenarios regarding what happened to Ms Murphy, including the possibility that she was kidnapped and is still alive.

Police are appealing for help finding 51-year-old Samantha Murphy, who was last seen leaving her home for a run. Picture: Supplied

Dr Ashkar told the show it was “unfathomable” that Ms Murphy disappeared on purpose due to her close family ties.

“The idea that Samantha has actually wilfully left the family is just unfathomable and just implausible to me,” Dr Ashkar told the program.

Presenter Liz Hayes also spoke to mine shaft explorer Raymond Shaw who has been helping with the police search.

There are thousands of abandoned mine shafts around Ballarat, some are 100 metres deep.

There is a possibility that one contains Ms Murphy’s body.

“I think there could be anywhere between 4000 and 5000 gold mines just underneath the town,” Mr Shaw told Ms Hayes.

Despite major search efforts by the missing persons squad, specialist commands and hundreds of Ballarat locals, Ms Murphy has not been seen since she vanished on February 4.

Local woman Sissy Austin, who was attacked nearby by an unknown man in February last year, said she didn’t believe that Ms Murphy fell down a mineshaft by accident.

“All the locals know how to navigate the terrain without falling … down a mineshaft,” Ms Austin said.

But the panel agreed that it was possible Ms Murphy’s body had been dumped in a mineshaft after meeting with foul play, which was deemed to be the most likely scenario.

“They could be a great place to conceal a body or a crime after the fact … and you’d probably never find it,” Mr Marrett said.

A team of experts discussed the possible scenarios of what happened to Ms Murphy. (Picture: Nine)

Dr Ashkar said the absence of any trace of Ms Murphy could point to her having been attacked by a “psychopathic predator … who would know that area, like the back of their hand”.

The panel also considered a potential new clue, the possible sighting of a damaged vehicle in the area alluded to in a recent police statement.

Police on Friday said they believed “one or more parties” were involved in the disappearance of Ms Murphy, adding that it was “very doubtful” she was still alive.

Det acting Supt Mark Hatt renewed calls for information about the case.

“I encourage anyone who does have information that could be relevant to this investigation – whether that’s a person or vehicle seen in the area on that day, something unusual such as a damaged vehicle or property – to please come forward and speak to police or provide the information via Crime Stoppers,” he said.

The experts considered the possibility that the existence of a damaged vehicle could mean Ms Murphy was taken from the area.

Dr Ashkar touted an alternative scenario to murder - that Ms Murphy may have been kidnapped at the 7km point of her run and is still alive.

“I would still like to believe the very real possibility that it’s a kidnapping and she’s still alive,” Dr Ashkar said.

“That’s my hope. But I absolutely feel that whoever has taken her and abducted, they are very systematic and organised and knew very well what they were doing.”

Mr Marrett said the police’s interest in the damaged car was significant.

“They didn’t just say a car, they said a damaged car, it’s so specific,” he said.

“So was that damage caused with this incident or was that damage because someone saw a damaged car leave?”

Dark ‘search party’ claim

On Wednesday morning, veteran crime reporter John ‘Sly’ Silvester aired a new theory about the disappearance of Ms Murphy as the search extends into a fourth week.

While discussing what is known about the high-profile search with talkback radio station 3AW, he stated: “It’s not a disappearance as such or someone who’s orchestrated their disappearance.”

“We know it’s not self-harm or a medical issue. Why? Because the area has been searched, and they’re very confident if someone has fallen down one way or another, they would have been found,” he added.

Police believe a third party could be involved in Ms Murphy’s disappearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

“So that leaves you with the suggestion of foul play and probably murder.”

Silvester said while locals had selflessly launched themselves into the search for Ms Murphy, among them may be somebody with ill-intent.

“Police will also be considering that one of those searchers is the (alleged) killer in that they have inculcated themselves into that situation to be seen as part of the community, but also keeping an eye on what’s going on,” he explained.

Silvester also suggested it’s likely “the victim has no secrets” after he presumed police did a deep dive into her life.

“You have to go deep into that person to find out potential enemies or what could have happened,” he said.

It comes just a day after a volunteer-led search for Ms Murphy was cancelled as a catastrophic fire danger rating was put in place for the region.