Police launch new search for Sam Murphy

Victoria Police have launched a fresh search for the body of missing woman Samantha Murphy, with the search focused on bushland near Ballarat.

Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad and specialist resources drawn from the Victoria Police, NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police were involved in the search on Tuesday, police said.

“Police undertook a targeted search in the Ballarat area today as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Samantha Murphy,” a spokeswoman told NewsWire.

“Since February, police have regularly undertaken a range of inquiries and small-scale searches as part of the current investigation.

“Samantha’s family has also been advised of the search.

“We are not in a position to supply further specific details of today’s operational activity at this time.

“The search will resume tomorrow.

“Police ask that members of the public do not attend the search at this time.”

The Ballarat mum-of-three vanished on February 4 after telling her husband Michael Murphy she was going on a 20km run.

The 51-year-old left her home on Eureka St in Ballarat East about 7am but failed to return, raising concerns for her welfare.

The police and the public pursued multiple large-scale searches for Ms Murphy across February and March, but her body has yet to be found.

In late February, the police concentrated the search to the areas around Mount Clear, south of the regional Victorian town, on intelligence gleaned from phone data.

Woowookarung Regional Park, where Ms Murphy often went running, and Enfield State Park have also been extensively searched.

The police arrested 23-year-old Patrick Stephenson on March 6 and charged him with her alleged murder.

“We’re saying this was a deliberate attack on Samantha,” Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said at a press conference after announcing the arrest.

“He’s been located through a range of investigative outcomes that have come together, and as you are aware, we have been pinging phones and following up on investigation reports from members of the public.

“We have done ground searches, we have done door knocks, so it’s a whole range of information that has come together.”

Mr Stephenson, an electrician and the son of AFL player Orren Stephenson, remains behind bars and he is expected to appear in court again in November.

The police allege Mr Stephenson acted alone.

In June, the police located Ms Murphy’s phone.

The alleged murder rocked the tight-knit community of Ballarat.

Volunteers involved in Ms Murphy’s search held a public vigil for her at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Garden at 7pm in March.