Australia SAMANTHA MURPHY: Missing from Ballarat, VIC - 4 Feb 2024 - Age 51

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www.9news.com.au

Victorian mum's disappearance 'suspicious' and 'unusual', top cop says

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Victorian mum's disappearance is 'suspicious' and 'unusual', top cop says​

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has conceded the disappearance of missing mother Samantha Murphy is "suspicious" but said no evidence of foul play had emerged.

It's been 10 days since Murphy went missing after heading out for a run in the Canadian State Forest near Ballarat on February 4.

Police have been following up hundreds of pieces of information and are conducting targeted searches of the local area.

Investigators earlier said they didn't have any evidence to prove the 51-year-old's disappearance was suspicious or that foul play was involved.

Patton today said Murphy's disappearance was suspicious due to the unusual and concerning nature of the case, and the amount of time she had been missing.

"It's suspicious, whether that means there's foul play involved, or not, I don't know," Patton said today.

"It's certainly unusual when we haven't been able to locate any trace of her or any other evidence within that period of time.

"But, obviously, detectives are investigating a matter where a woman's been missing for a significant period of time."

MEDIA LINK: Missing Samantha Murphy left home on February 4, 2024 to go jogging in the Woowookarung Regional Park, near Ballarat, Victoria #AUSTRALIA
 
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Major update after police find missing mum Samantha Murphy’s iPhone in dam outside Ballarat​

A mobile phone belonging to missing woman Samantha Murphy is undamaged and in near-perfect working condition, after police made the astonishing discovery in a dam near Ballarat.

Forensic testing on the phone is ongoing after police located the item during a renewed search in the Ballarat area last week.

7 News reports the phone is in near-perfect condition and undamaged - which could provide vital clues on the final movements of Ms Murphy.

It follows Samantha Murphy’s husband Mick revealing he knew it was his wife’s phone as soon as police called to tell him a phone was found.

There were subdued celebrations from police this week as a muddy phone in a wallet was pulled from a dam outside Ballarat.


Police are still working to retrieve data from the phone.

“The physical properties of the phone will obviously be damaged but what’s behind it, those ones and zeros of data, will be retrievable,” cybersecurity expert Nigel Phair said.

“This is the game changer for the investigation.”


Mr Stephenson, 22, was charged with her murder on March 8. He is yet to enter a plea.

He is scheduled for a committal mention in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court in August.
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7news.com.au

New developments in search for Samantha Murphy’s body

The alleged murder victim’s phone was found late last month.
7news.com.au 7news.com.au

Police wrap targeted two-day search for Samantha Murphy’s body​

New targeted searches are being conducted for Samantha Murphy’s body, following the discovery of her phone late last month.

Murphy’s phone was found in its teal-coloured case by missing persons squad detectives searching near a dam in Buninyong, approximately 10 minutes from Murphy’s Ballarat home, undamaged and in near-perfect working condition.

Following the discovery, Victoria Police conducted targeted searches in the Ballarat area on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad as well as a range of specialist resources from across Victoria Police were involved in the search,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

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

Murphy’s phone and other items located last month are still being forensically assessed, the spokesperson confirmed.
 

Investigation ongoing six months after Samantha Murphy’s disappearance​

It’s been six months since Samantha Murphy failed to return home from a run and although a man has been charged with her murder, her body has not been found.

Despite extensive searches, Ms Murphy has not been seen since she vanished.

Police allege she was murdered by Patrick Orren Stephenson, a 22-year-old man who is not believed to have been known to Ms Murphy.

He has not entered pleas and is expected to appear at Ballarat Magistrates Court on August 8.

Police allege he acted alone, and investigators are still searching for Ms Murphy’s body.

“He has been charged with murder so, by definition, we are saying this was a deliberate attack on Samantha,” Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said in March.

Victoria Police confirmed on Monday that the investigation into Ms Murphy’s disappearance remains ongoing, and that a phone found during a search in Buninyong did belong to the missing woman.
 
www.abc.net.au

Court hearings for man accused of murdering Samantha Murphy delayed due to 'huge' evidence brief

An "unprecedented" amount of evidence is causing delays in court for the matter of Patrick Orren Stephenson, accused of murdering Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au

'Unprecedented' volume of evidence compiled for Samantha Murphy murder case, court hears​

An "unprecedented" amount of evidence, including extensive CCTV footage, is causing delays in court for the matter of Patrick Orren Stephenson, accused of murdering Victorian woman Samantha Murphy.

The 23-year-old appeared before the Ballarat Magistrates' Court via video link on Thursday.

He wore a white t-shirt and occasionally glanced around the empty room he sat in, only speaking to acknowledge that he could hear the magistrate on a few occasions.


In Thursday's hearing, Magistrate Mark Stratmann acknowledged the public interest in the case and that it needed to "move promptly".

One of Mr Stephenson's lawyers, Moya O'Brien, said she was yet to receive the CCTV footage and would need time to review it.

"It has been described as unprecedented in terms of size," she said.

She requested at least a 12-week adjournment, a move also supported by the prosecution.

"Given the huge amount of material to be gone through and taking instruction from Mr Stephenson, that is an adequate amount of time in our submission," Ms O'Brien said.

A media application for the charges was also adjourned until Mr Stephenson's next appearance. Magistrate Stratmann said there was not enough time to discuss the matter during Thursday's hearing.

Mr Stephenson will remain in custody until the matter returns to court on November 14.
 

Victoria Police launch fresh search for body of Samantha 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.”
 
www.theguardian.com

Samantha Murphy: Ballarat murder trial fast-tracked after Patrick Stephenson pleads not guilty

Court hears Stephenson denies murdering Ballarat woman after her family last saw her leaving to go on a run
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Samantha Murphy: Ballarat murder trial fast-tracked after Patrick Stephenson pleads not guilty​

The Victorian man accused of killing missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder, with his case being fast-tracked to the state’s supreme court.

Patrick Stephenson, 23, appeared in the Ballarat magistrates court via video link, charged with the murder of Murphy. She was last seen more than nine months ago when she left her Ballarat East home to go for a run.

Crown prosecutor Raymond Gibson KC said Stephenson had opted to waive a committal hearing, a process that allows the evidence in the case to be tested before it can go to trial.

Stephenson’s lawyer, Michael Allen, confirmed his client understood he was choosing to stand trial, thereby fast-tracking his case to the Victorian supreme court.


www.theage.com.au

Families watch on as Samantha Murphy’s accused killer opts to fast-track murder trial

Patrick Stephenson will have his trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to murdering the missing Ballarat mother.
www.theage.com.au www.theage.com.au

Families watch on as Samantha Murphy’s accused killer opts to fast-track murder trial​

The man accused of murdering missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy will have his trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court after the 23-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Patrick Orren Stephenson faced Ballarat Magistrates’ Court via video link from the Melbourne Assessment Prison on Thursday. It was revealed that he had elected to have the case fast-tracked to the higher court.

Court documents reveal Stephenson has also been charged with drink and drug driving, and careless driving in October 2023, months before the alleged murder.

Stephenson, sporting a beard, long hair and black wristwatch, sat with his arms crossed while being addressed by magistrate Mark Stratmann.

When asked how he intended to plead to the single charge of murder, he replied: “Not guilty, your honour.”

Stephenson, the son of late-life AFL draftee Orren Stephenson, was arrested at a home in Scotsburn in March.

Police are continuing to look for the remains of Murphy, a mother of three, who went missing on February 4 after going for a trail run.
 
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