‘We just want to give her a funeral’: Family’s hope that Sam will be found

The devastated mother of murdered woman Samantha Murphy says she misses her daughter “more than anything” and just wants to give her a proper funeral.

The devastated mother of murdered woman Samantha Murphy has made a desperate plea to find her daughter’s body so she can finally give her a funeral.

A year on from the Ballarat mother of three’s disappearance her mother Pam Robson has broken her silence, exclusively telling the Herald Sun not a day goes by that she doesn’t think of her daughter.

“(We) are hoping one day that they find her – she’s got to be out there somewhere,” she said.

“We just want to give her a funeral.”

A year on from her disappearance, Samantha Murphy's family are desperate to give her a proper funeral. Picture: Supplied

The mum of three set out on a run on February 4, 2024, and never returned. Picture: Supplied

Speaking from her Gordon home, a tearful Ms Robson said she missed her daughter “more than anything” but remained hopeful she would one day get to lay her rest.

She said Mrs Murphy’s loved ones had been taking it “one day at a time” following her disappearance on February 4 last year.

The 51-year-old set off from her Eureka St home about 7am to go for a 14km run along a route she regularly travelled in the Canadian State Forest – and was never seen again.

Mrs Murphy’s worried family raised the alarm when the keen jogger failed to attend a brunch planned for later that day, sparking an extensive search of the vast bushland around Ballarat.

The discovery of the phone provided a glimmer of hope that Mrs Murphy’s body would be found. Picture: ABC NEWS

Five weeks later, Ballarat man Patrick Stephenson, 23, was charged with her murder.

Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton said they allege Mr Stephenson killed Mrs Murphy in a deliberate attack the day she disappeared – but authorities have remained tight-lipped about how they believe she was killed, or why.

“I am not going to go into the details of how Samantha died, I’m just simply going to say she was (allegedly) murdered on the day of her disappearance,” Mr Patton said at the time.

“This investigation is far from over though, obviously we are going to be continuing to gather further evidence. We’ll be taking further statements and investigations will continue at a very heavy pace.”

Police discovered Mrs Murphy’s phone on the bank of a dam during a search of Buninyong property. Picture: Ian Wilson

In May last year, missing person squad detectives uncovered Mrs Murphy’s mud-soaked mobile phone on the bank of a dam during a “targeted search” of a Buninyong property.

The discovery of the late-model iPhone in its distinctive teal case provided a fleeting glimmer of hope that the missing woman’s remains would also soon be found.

Investigators could be seen hugging, shaking hands and giving high-fives following the significant breakthrough.

But 12 months since Mrs Murphy was captured on CCTV in the driveway of her Ballarat East home, there has been no sign of her body.

Despite the slow progress, her family has tried to stay in good spirits.

Ms Robson said everyone who had worked on the investigation and joined in the search for her daughter had been “marvellous”.

Samantha’s husband Mick Murphy and daughter Jess Murphy speaking to media outside Ballarat West Police Station in the days after she vanished. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Patrick Stephenson has been charged with murder over Mrs Murphy’s disappearance. Picture: Paul Tyquin

It comes as police vowed to continue searching for Mrs Murphy.

“While a year has passed, we still believe we can locate her,” missing persons squad Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan said.

“This year we will continue to conduct searches in the Ballarat area, including searches in areas highlighted by intelligence derived from a number of sources.”

Inspector Duncan said while nothing would erase the grief of Mrs Murphy’s family, being able to return her to them was “incredibly important”.

Originally published as ‘We just want to give her a funeral’: Family’s hope that Sam will be found