A 22-year-old man has been formally accused of murdering Samantha Murphy, the 51-year-old Ballarat woman who went missing over a month ago. The suspect is scheduled to appear in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday, facing a single charge of murder.
Law enforcement apprehended the individual at his residence in Scotsburn, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Ballarat, early on Wednesday morning. Following the arrest, the man underwent questioning by the police. As of now, authorities have not located Murphy’s body, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Samantha Murphy was last spotted on CCTV footage in the driveway of her family home around 7 am on February 4th. She had informed friends and family of her intention to go for a run. Despite extensive searches in the Canadian Forest area involving specialized units from Victoria police and local volunteers, Murphy’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Acting Detective Superintendent Mark Hatt expressed gratitude to the missing persons squad, crime and counter-terrorism commands, and police from the western region. He acknowledged the significant support from the Ballarat community, including local search volunteers, members of the SES, and CFA.
Hatt emphasized the impact of Samantha’s disappearance on the Ballarat community and thanked everyone who contributed to the investigation. He extended his thoughts to Murphy’s family and friends. Previous statements by the police suggested suspicions of involvement by “one or more parties” in Murphy’s disappearance, expressing doubt about her survival.
Detective Superintendent Mark Hatt ruled out the possibility of Murphy leaving the area voluntarily or encountering a medical incident. Mobile phone data played a crucial role in the investigation, leading detectives to revisit the Mount Clear area, approximately 7 kilometers south of Murphy’s home, for a targeted search.
Despite weeks passing since her disappearance, volunteers have persevered in scouring bushland for any potential clues related to Samantha Murphy’s case.
