Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #9

[StillDiggin]

desperate search continues for a mother-of-three who vanished without a trace after heading off on a 20km run during a heatwave.

Samantha Murphy, 51, was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, about 100km northwest of Melbourne, at 7am on Sunday.

It's understood she was planning to run through the Canadian State Forest and was captured on CCTV wearing a brown singlet and black half-length leggings.

The mother-of-three has now been missing for almost 36 hours

Her 'upset and concerned' family hold grave concerns and described her disappearance as out of character.

Grave fears for mum missing for 36 hours

Samantha Murphy, 51, was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, about 100km northwest of Melbourne, at 7am on Sunday. She's still missing 36 hours later.

www.dailymail.co.uk

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[Knitty]

IMPORTANT

Effective with the arrest in this case, sub judice is in effect and will be until a trial has concluded. For anyone not familiar with the judicial principle of sub judice, please review the following.

WS is based in the USA but we do try to manage the various discussions to comply with laws of other countries.

As this trial is in Australia, the case is under sub judice so please avoid anything that violates the following principles:

Basically anything that may prejudice the accused’s right to a fair trial
Any suggestion, opinion, or direct accusation that the accused is either guilty OR innocent
(i.e. the accused cannot be called "the killer"; use "the accused", "the alleged killer", or "the defendant")
A defendant’s previous history of any offences is off limits
Scandalizing the court (disparaging judges, lawyers, any officer of the Court) is off limits
Broadcasting anything about proceedings which happen in the jury's absence is off limits
Any non compliance with an Order of the court is off limits

Note in the event of an Appeal subsequent to verdict:
Appeals are usually heard by senior judges who are not likely to be influenced by the media, therefore responsible comment is usually considered acceptable once a trial has concluded, regardless of if there is going to be an appeal.

Posts that are determined to constitute a violation of sub judice will be removed. To avoid this, please review the following from the Victoria Law Reform Commission and post accordingly:
10. Sub judice contempt: restricting the publication of prejudicial information

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

None of us know this POI/suspect, therefore none of us is in any position to diagnose them.

Please move on from the attempts at diagnosing mental health. It is off topic speculation not based on any known fact.

Thanks.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Continue the discussion here.

 

[Rocket333]

If this act was in the impulsive basket, maybe it was in an immediate reaction to a big blow up with his gf or even with his mother. In a rage, he could have taken off in his car, headed for some breathing space in the bush and ended up taking it all out on the first person (alone and perceived to be weaker) to come by. His actions were fatal and he may have then spent the day making it all disappear. No alibi, car caught on cctv (even possibly returning to the spot), and another conclusive piece of evidence obtained and viewed. Family may have left quickly too due to security concerns, or due to helping the investigation. Or not.
MOO

 

[Sor Juana]

Anecdotal evidence suggests that visual signals can appear in the leaves of trees and shrubs growing near a body. For instance, a body can affect the mix of plant species growing nearby and plant leaves may be visibly darker, indicative of higher nitrogen uptake.

 

[Rocket333]

Anecdotal evidence suggests that visual signals can appear in the leaves of trees and shrubs growing near a body. For instance, a body can affect the mix of plant species growing nearby and plant leaves may be visibly darker, indicative of higher nitrogen uptake.
View attachment 494822

Interesting article Sor.
Have the searches that have occurred for Samantha (apart from the searches of his homes) only focussed on the outdoors and specific areas? If so what would inform where to search?

 

[Dotta]

Are there any searches still?
No news that I heard of

Maybe some hiker will find her bones eventually.

Like in the case of little Emile in France.
His little skull was found in the place previously searched.

JMO

 

[marv hucker]

Are there any searches still?
No news that I heard of

Maybe some hiker will find her eventually.

Like in the case of little Emile in France.
His little skull was found in the place previously searched.

JMO

Not large scale. Occasionally targeted searches of specific spots, but not daily.

 

[Sher Lock]

The H/S have just released an article on MM and how he's trying to traverse life at this moment without SM. Quite heartbreaking. I hope for MM & the whole family's sake, someone, be it police or hikers or whoever, find SM soon.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/michael-murphy-i-need-to-be-strong-myself-and-look-after-everyone-around-me/news-story/f653bc98fcca22a81eac34c270a7d8bd

 

[SouthAussie]

The H/S have just released an article on MM and how he's trying to traverse life at this moment without SM. Quite heartbreaking. I hope for MM & the whole family's sake, someone, be it police or hikers or whoever, find SM soon.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/michael-murphy-i-need-to-be-strong-myself-and-look-after-everyone-around-me/news-story/f653bc98fcca22a81eac34c270a7d8bd

It was Samantha's birthday on Saturday. That would have been a hard 'first' to go through.

Mick hasn't returned to work yet, and still searches for Samantha every day.

(as per your linked article)

 

[Sher Lock]

It was Samantha's birthday on Saturday. That would have been a hard 'first' to go through.

Mick hasn't returned to work yet, and still searches for Samantha every day.

(as per your linked article)

Thanks for paraphrasing the prominent points SouthAussie .. much appreciated. I hadn't considered some W/S wouldn't be able to read it.

 

[Dotta]

It was Samantha's birthday on Saturday. That would have been a hard 'first' to go through.

Mick hasn't returned to work yet, and still searches for Samantha every day.

(as per your linked article)

What a pity the article is behind a pay wall.

As the previous one about schoolmates talking about the accused.
Mentioning his eccentric behaviour and outbursts during school years.

I guess his family allegedly wanted to "keep an eye on him" due to his problems
(living with parents and working with father).

Not that it helped much it seems - allegedly.
"Benders" also didn't improve his MH.
Allegedly.

JMO

 

[SouthAussie]

What a pity the article is behind a pay wall.


<RSBM>

The only thing it says about the investigation is that Mick checks in with the police weekly for updates.

And I think that the accused still isn't speaking - because Mick expects a long, drawn out investigation while he doesn't speak.

Ground Crew are still liaising with the police in organising searches and are mindful that they should not disturb any potential evidence.

(as per the article)

 

[Warshawski]

What a pity the article is behind a pay wall.

As the previous one about schoolmates talking about the accused.
Mentioning his eccentric behaviour and outbursts during school years.

I guess his family allegedly wanted to "keep an eye on him" due to his problems
(living with parents and working with father).

Not that it helped much it seems - allegedly.
"Benders" also didn't improve his MH.
Allegedly.

JMO

Imo, it’s ’sensationalIsm’ that often sells media, so in that vein I imagine HS would’ve been interested in publishing the ones that supported potential issues in his youth, since we’re all looking for a ‘reason’.

Mind you, there was one article (linked here previously) where PS was spoken of in quite glowing terms as to his abilities and persona.

We’re all individuals. We will like / get on with some people, while others we will find unlikeable or even intolerable ( and vice versa). I think it would be pretty easy to get comments to substantiate either claim, so I’m not taking too much notice, particularly since they were comments made about a pre-pubescent boy.

Jmo.

 

[Dotta]

DM
NOT behind pay wall
Video

"Samantha Murphy's distraught husband ​

reveals he still searches for her every day ​

and shares his heartache as grim milestone passes.​

• Michael Murphy still has faith his wife's body will be found
• He feels he has to stay strong for the sake of his family.

Ms Murphy would have turned 52 on Saturday,
but her family had to mark the day without her or even knowing where her body is.

It was
'the first birthday without Sam …
That's a hard thing but we've gotta face reality and realise she's just not coming back'.


He still searches for his wife's body every day,
while he and his family wait in hope for any new developments news from the police.

Michael misses Samantha all the time,
but he tries to hold his spirits up, saying:

'I need to be strong myself and look after everyone around me'."

Samantha Murphy's distraught husband still searches for her every day

Michael Murphy still has faith that the body of his beloved wife Samantha will be found, as the heartbroken family passed a major milestone last weekend.

www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[RobinCAL]

Timeline of Samantha Murphy's disappearance​

Sunday, February 4, 7am: Mum-of-three Samantha Murphy is last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East heading off on a run.

7.16am: She is captured on a neighbour's CCTV wearing a brown singlet and black half-length leggings.

11am: Ms Murphy fails to show up at a planned brunch with family. She is reported to police as a missing.

Monday, February 5: Victoria Police launch a public appeal to find Ms Murphy. A search area is established just outside the suburb of Buninyong, about 14km from where Ms Murphy was last seen, as well as near her home. Police revealed Ms Murphy's mobile phone had pinged in Buninyong.

Tuesday, February 6: Ms Murphy's husband, Mick, tells media that he's 'not too bad under the circumstances. He was pictured speaking with police as the desperate search continued. The search extended to more than 100 specialised police officers, SES crews and teams from Forest Fire Management Australia and Parks Victoria.

Wednesday, February 8, 12.30pm: A search party found possible evidence near a walking trail in Woowookarung Regional Park.

1.45pm: Mick Murphy turns up at the cordoned off scene in Woowookarung Regional Park and appeared visibly stunned as he was turned away by officers. Police said the items found in bushland were not related to her whereabouts.

Police later released what they initially thought was CCTV of Ms Murphy leaving her property and heading off in a north-easterly direction toward Yankee Flat Road near the intersection of Warrenheip Road.

Thursday afternoon, February 8: A runner came forward to reveal they are the person seen in the CCTV footage, ruling out a key line of inquiry.

Friday, February 9: Victoria Police ramp up its efforts with the arrival of officers from the missing persons unit.

Saturday, February 10: Investigators scale back the search and say that a full scale search will only resume if fresh information emerges.

Sunday, February 11: As police down grade the search, locals continue their own search by scouring the area in small groups.

Monday, February 12: Cin Hobbs, administrator of 'Find Samantha Murphy' Facebook group - which garnered thousands of members within days announced she was removing the group as it 'has served its purpose'.

Tuesday, February 13: Daily Mail Australia reveals that Ms Murphy's beloved dog, Ruby, had gone missing.

Wednesday, February 14: Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton confirms detectives are treating Ms Murphy's disappearance is suspicious.

Detectives from Victoria Police's Missing Persons Unit spend an hour at the Murphy family's property.

It is revealed Ruby has died.

Monday, February 19: Mick Murphy issues public plea, saying: 'We want Sam home please.'

He claims his family are 'doing the best we can under the circumstances'.

Thursday, February 21: Dozens of detectives from specialist units are assigned to the case.

Friday, February 22: Police admit 'one or more parties' are most likely behind her disappearance as the hunt shifts to a fresh location at Mount Clear based on new phone data analysis.

Wednesday, March 6: Man, 22, is arrested.

Thursday, March 7: Man is charged with murder and faces court where no application for bail is made.

Friday, March 8: Patrick Orren Stephenson, the son of ex-AFL footballer Orren Stephenson, is named as the man charged with murder after a suppression order is lifted.

(from the above link in @Dotta 's post)

 

[Sher Lock]

Timeline of Samantha Murphy's disappearance​

Sunday, February 4, 7am: Mum-of-three Samantha Murphy is last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East heading off on a run.

7.16am: She is captured on a neighbour's CCTV wearing a brown singlet and black half-length leggings.

11am: Ms Murphy fails to show up at a planned brunch with family. She is reported to police as a missing.

Monday, February 5: Victoria Police launch a public appeal to find Ms Murphy. A search area is established just outside the suburb of Buninyong, about 14km from where Ms Murphy was last seen, as well as near her home. Police revealed Ms Murphy's mobile phone had pinged in Buninyong.

Tuesday, February 6: Ms Murphy's husband, Mick, tells media that he's 'not too bad under the circumstances. He was pictured speaking with police as the desperate search continued. The search extended to more than 100 specialised police officers, SES crews and teams from Forest Fire Management Australia and Parks Victoria.

Wednesday, February 8, 12.30pm: A search party found possible evidence near a walking trail in Woowookarung Regional Park.

1.45pm: Mick Murphy turns up at the cordoned off scene in Woowookarung Regional Park and appeared visibly stunned as he was turned away by officers. Police said the items found in bushland were not related to her whereabouts.

Police later released what they initially thought was CCTV of Ms Murphy leaving her property and heading off in a north-easterly direction toward Yankee Flat Road near the intersection of Warrenheip Road.

Thursday afternoon, February 8: A runner came forward to reveal they are the person seen in the CCTV footage, ruling out a key line of inquiry.

Friday, February 9: Victoria Police ramp up its efforts with the arrival of officers from the missing persons unit.

Saturday, February 10: Investigators scale back the search and say that a full scale search will only resume if fresh information emerges.

Sunday, February 11: As police down grade the search, locals continue their own search by scouring the area in small groups.

Monday, February 12: Cin Hobbs, administrator of 'Find Samantha Murphy' Facebook group - which garnered thousands of members within days announced she was removing the group as it 'has served its purpose'.

Tuesday, February 13: Daily Mail Australia reveals that Ms Murphy's beloved dog, Ruby, had gone missing.

Wednesday, February 14: Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton confirms detectives are treating Ms Murphy's disappearance is suspicious.

Detectives from Victoria Police's Missing Persons Unit spend an hour at the Murphy family's property.

It is revealed Ruby has died.

Monday, February 19: Mick Murphy issues public plea, saying: 'We want Sam home please.'

He claims his family are 'doing the best we can under the circumstances'.

Thursday, February 21: Dozens of detectives from specialist units are assigned to the case.

Friday, February 22: Police admit 'one or more parties' are most likely behind her disappearance as the hunt shifts to a fresh location at Mount Clear based on new phone data analysis.

Wednesday, March 6: Man, 22, is arrested.

Thursday, March 7: Man is charged with murder and faces court where no application for bail is made.

Friday, March 8: Patrick Orren Stephenson, the son of ex-AFL footballer Orren Stephenson, is named as the man charged with murder after a suppression order is lifted.

(from the above link in @Dotta 's post)

"Thursday, February 21: Dozens of detectives from specialist units are assigned to the case."

Interesting ... Feb 21 was the approximate date that Police started surveillance on suspect according to my
calculations on information available.

What warranted 'Dozens of detectives to be assigned to the case''?
Just prior to this date (Feb 21), did the Police find something small but of immense value to the investigation and what was it and how did it link the suspect?

 

[BreakingNews]

If this act was in the impulsive basket, maybe it was in an immediate reaction to a big blow up with his gf or even with his mother. In a rage, he could have taken off in his car, headed for some breathing space in the bush and ended up taking it all out on the first person (alone and perceived to be weaker) to come by. His actions were fatal and he may have then spent the day making it all disappear. No alibi, car caught on cctv (even possibly returning to the spot), and another conclusive piece of evidence obtained and viewed. Family may have left quickly too due to security concerns, or due to helping the investigation. Or not.
MOO

I'm not sure impulse falls under the definition of murder. Murder is all about intent. However how long would one have to have the intention for? A month, a week, a day, a nanosecond?

Murder in Australian law - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Kemug]

I am always interested in the emotional side of things, so I do wonder what feelings PS has - is he angry, afraid, remorseful (let's assume he is guilty as charged), resentful; are his emotions all mixed up, is he "cracking hardy" and pretending he's not bothered?