Victoria Police have vowed to find the remains of Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy ahead of the anniversary of her disappearance.
On February 4, 2024, Murphy was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East for a run at about 7am. After the 51-year-old failed to return home, an investigation into her disappearance was launched.
A month later, on March 6, now 23-year-old Patrick Orren Stephenson, the son of former AFL Orren Stephenson, was arrested and charged with one count of murder in relation to Murphy’s disappearance.
On November 14, Stephenson pleaded not guilty to the murder of Murphy, choosing to fast-track his trial to Victoria’s supreme court.
Ahead of the year anniversary of Murphy’s disappearance, detectives have promised to find the mother’s remains.
Per 9News, the search for Murphy has spanned Enfield State Park, Canadian Forest and Buninyong Bushland Reserve and has involved the support of many teams, including Missing Person Squad officers, the dog squad, the mounted branch, search and rescue, air wing, SES, the AFP, local police and crime detectives.
“Since Samantha’s disappearance, police have worked tirelessly to locate her. While nothing can erase their grief and loss, being able to return Samantha to her family has always been incredibly important to us,” Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan said, per the publication.
“We also know that Samantha’s death has had an enormous impact on the Ballarat community, as well as the wider Victorian community.
“I want to reaffirm to the community that the Missing Persons Squad remains committed to doing everything we can to locate Samantha – while a year has passed, we still believe we can locate her.”
Detective Dunstan confirmed the search for Murphy will be expanded to the Ballarat area and will include new areas that have been tipped off from sources.
“We also ask people who may be using these areas, particularly in the Enfield State Forest, to be aware of their surroundings and if they believe they may have come across Samantha’s remains to contact police immediately,” he continued.
“There is nothing we want more than to return Samantha to her family and we remain committed to doing this.”
Anyone with information regarding Murphy’s disappearance is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
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