Fears grow for jogger Samantha Murphy as police widen forest search
Police release new CCTV footage of Victorian mum Samantha Murphy, missing for four days, and reiterate concerns for her welfare.
Police have shifted their search for missing Victorian jogger Samantha Murphy to a new area of Ballarat amid escalating fears for her safety.
Ms Murphy has been missing since Sunday, when she was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East at about 7am to go for a run in the nearby Canadian State Forest.
On Wednesday, police released new CCTV footage of Ms Murphy on her run and reiterated concerns for her welfare.
Police confirmed they had been searching the Canadian Forest area with the assistance of a number of emergency services.
“Following further investigation into the area Samantha was running, police have today been searching the nearby Mount Helen area to the East of Geelong Road,” Victoria Police said on Wednesday afternoon.
“The search includes members of Police Search and Rescue, uniform members, Mounted Branch, Canine Unit, SES and CFA.”
Ms Murphy’s husband, Michael Murphy, told the Herald Sun on Tuesday that his wife went running in the area every day and that he was hopeful she would be found safely.
Mr Murphy, who owns and works at a vehicle repairs business called Inland Motor Body Works with his wife in nearby Delacombe, said he was “not too bad under the circumstances”.
“It’s just up in the air, we don’t know,” he said. “It’s just a whole time thing at the end of the day.”
Police also released new CCTV footage of Ms Murphy in the hope it would assist the public with providing information on her whereabouts.
“The footage was captured at about 7.16am on Eureka Street near the intersection of Warrenheip Road and captures Samantha running in a northeasterly direction toward Yankee Flat Road,” police said.
“Investigators would like residents in the above areas to review their CCTV footage between 7am and 11am in the event Samantha is captured.
“Police and family have concerns for Samantha’s welfare due to the length of time she has been missing and her disappearance being out of character.
“Anyone who sights Samantha is urged to contact triple-0 immediately.”
Police confirmed earlier on Wednesday they had located some items during their search for the 51-year-old.
“The items will be assessed to determine if they are relevant to the investigation,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“The search for Samantha continues, with the assistance of Police Search & Rescue, uniform police, Canine Unit, Mounted Branch, SES and CFA.”
Police had cordoned off an area of bushland after discovering the items, which were found in shrubs near Ms Murphy’s home.
But two hours later, police confirmed the items had been assessed and were not Ms Murphy’s.
An SES vehicle was set up near Ms Murphy’s home on Wednesday, with crews searching the nearby Woowookarung Regional Park, prioritising the location of a phone, watch or earpods, according to the Herald Sun.
Local police say they have seen what is probably the largest community response ever to the search in the Ballarat region, with residents continuing to arrive at the local police station for directions, according to reports.
Police appealed for public assistance when Ms Murphy failed to return home on Sunday.
“Police and family have concerns for Samantha’s welfare due to the hot weather and her disappearance being out of character,” police said.
Police have described Ms Murphy as caucasian, about 173cm tall with a slim build and shoulder-length blonde hair.
She was last seen wearing black half-length leggings and a maroon/brown coloured singlet.
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