The search for missing Victorian mother Samantha Murphy continues, as the search has entered second week, fears grow over her wellbeing.
Initial Search Efforts
The search for Samantha Murphy, a 51-year-old mother from Ballarat, began when she failed to return home after leaving for a run in the nearby Canadian State Forest on Sunday morning.
CCTV footage captured her last known sighting near her home on Eureka Street, running toward Yankee Flat Road. Concerns for her safety grew, particularly due to the hot weather conditions on the day of her disappearance.
BREAKING: Police have evacuated part of a walking trail and declared a crime scene after an item was discovered in shrub during the search for missing Ballarat East mum Samantha Murphy. @ACurrentAffair9 @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/uaoSNT0Pg8
— Sam Cucchiara (@SamCucchiara9) February 7, 2024
Community Involvement
The tight-knit community of Ballarat rallied together to assist in the search efforts, with volunteers, emergency services, and residents combing through bushland and reviewing CCTV footage in the surrounding areas.
Samantha’s family, friends, and colleagues expressed deep concern for her well-being, hoping for her safe return.
The search for Samantha Murphy, a 51-year-old Ballarat woman who vanished on February 4th while out jogging, continues to garner attention. Despite the suspension of the official foot search, a dedicated group of volunteers persist in their efforts to locate the missing mother of three. The police, now examining CCTV footage to trace Murphy’s last known movements, urge the public to provide any relevant footage from the Ballarat East, Buninyong, and Mount Helen areas, regardless of whether Murphy is visible in the recordings.
Authorities have reassured the community that there appear to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding Murphy’s disappearance, although concerns for her welfare grow with each passing day. The police maintain ongoing communication with the Murphy family, keeping them informed about the investigation’s progress.
This case has touched the hearts of many, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who expressed his sympathy during a visit to Ballarat, and Catherine King, the local MP, who commended the search teams for their relentless efforts in the challenging terrain. The community’s hope for a positive resolution remains strong, reflecting Ballarat’s spirit of solidarity and concern for one of their own.
