Bush visit twist in Sam Murphy probe
Detectives have escorted the man charged with Sam Murphy’s murder to the rugged area near to where she was last seen alive.
The young man charged with the murder of missing Ballarat woman Sam Murphy was taken by police from jail to the dense bushland near where the mother was last seen alive, it has been reported.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, according to a report in Tuesday’s Herald Sun, was taken under police guard to the Canadian Forest region near the Victorian city late last year.
Ms Murphy, a mother of three, has not been seen alive since she left for a Sunday morning jog on February 4 last year. Her remains have not been found. Her discarded mobile phone was found near a farm dam last year.
Mr Stephenson was charged with Ms Murphy’s murder about a month after disappeared. The Herald Sun report did not confirm the reason 23-year-old Mr Stephenson was taken out of prison.
Victoria Police declined to comment on Tuesday.
“Victoria Police will not be commenting on this story as the matter is before the court,” police said in a statement. Police said the investigation remains a significant priority for the force.