There was a lull in Ballarat on Saturday after days of frenetic activity and the charging of Patrick Stephenson over the alleged murder of mother of three Samantha Murphy.
As temperatures soared across the state, Murphy’s husband, Mick, could not be seen at their Ballarat East house.
Similarly, there was little movement at the Stephenson family home in Mount Clear.
Police said there were no updates to their investigation and no immediate search activity for Murphy’s remains.
The Scotsburn property where police arrested 22-year-old Stephenson on Wednesday – and which he was house-sitting with his girlfriend – is for sale.
The four-bedroom rural home east of Buninyong has been on the market since at least November last year and has an indicative price range of $1 million to $1,050,000.
Patrick Stephenson accused of killing Samantha MurphyCredit: Matthew Absalom-Wong
A real estate agent was parked outside the 5.5-hectare property on Saturday afternoon, but the metal gate remained locked.
Stephenson, the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, was charged with Murphy’s murder on Thursday afternoon after being arrested at a home in Scotsburn, a farming community east of Buninyong.
A four-wheel drive parked outside the sprawling property has since been towed for examination, according to neighbours.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said investigators believe Murphy died at Mount Clear the day she went missing on February 4 while on a trail run. He described the death as a deliberate killing.
Her remains have yet to be found, and Stephenson’s alleged motive is unclear.
The night before Murphy disappeared, her accused killer enjoyed a night out with friends and was seen bar-hopping across central Ballarat.
A social media post purporting to show Stephenson snorting a white substance off a mobile phone screen with friends has also surfaced and circulated online.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Ballarat’s Eureka Stockdale Memorial Garden on Friday evening to hold a vigil for the 51-year-old.
At one point, the line to sign a condolence book that will be given to the Murphy family stretched about 100 metres.
In fading light, the crowd held up their phone torchlights in silence, reflecting on a tumultuous month for the regional city.
“After everything the community has done, it’s had a big impact on everyone,” said vigil organiser Jasmine Krause.
The only vigil speaker, Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson, said next week the council would figure out how to open city facilities so more tributes could be made out to the Murphy family.
“Yesterday was a sad day in Ballarat,” Hudson told the silent crowd.
“We have lost someone who made a real contribution to the Ballarat community.”
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