Key Points
- Police have charged a Ballarat man with the murder of missing woman Samantha Murphy.
- They allege he killed her on 4 February, the day she disappeared.
- The man has not told police where her body is.
Police have charged a 22-year-old with the murder of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy.
She was last seen on 4 February, which police said was the day she was allegedly murdered in Mount Clear.
Police are still working to locate Murphy's body and gathering evidence.
Weeks of extensive searches by emergency services and concerned community members have not uncovered the 51-year-old Ballarat woman and mother of three.
Here's what has been shared so far by police on the investigation.
Samantha Murphy's disappearance on 4 February
Murphy was last seen in CCTV footage outside her home on 4 February, leaving to go for a run.
She told her husband she was heading out for her regular 20km jog through the Canadian State Forest.
Her family members reported her missing later that morning. Officers do not know the exact route Murphy took on her run.
She was last seen wearing black half-length leggings and a maroon or brown singlet and had her smart watch and phone when she left her home.
Police believe she was killed on the day she disappeared but have not shared further information on what led them to arrest her accused murderer.
The following day police appealed for people with information about her disappearance to come forward.
The 51-year-old mother of three left home in the morning of 4 February to go jogging and has not been seen since. Source: AAP / JAMES ROSS/AAPIMAGE
Public appeal for information on Samantha Murphy
Murphy’s family issued an emotional plea for her to come home on Thursday 8 February.
Murphy’s eldest daughter, Jess, broke down at a press conference at Ballarat West police station.
"Mum, we love you so much, and we miss you, and we need you at home with us", she said.
"Please come home soon. I can’t wait to see you and to give you the biggest hug when I do, and to tell you off for giving us so much stress. I love you".
Murphy’s husband, Michael, urged anyone with information to come forward.
"People just don’t vanish into thin air. Someone has got to know something", he said.
Searches continue for Samantha Murphy
On 9 February Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt said Missing Persons squad detectives were deployed to Ballarat to take control of the investigation.
"We do hold significant concerns for Samantha's welfare at this stage and that is growing as the days progresses," Hatt said.
On 14 February Victoria police said there were "some suspicions" in the investigation, but there were no new developments at that point.
On 23 February Victoria police said it was "very doubtful" she was still alive. Up to 40 detectives searched the Mount Clear area where they believe Murphy was killed.
Members of Victoria Police, the State Emergency Service, the Country Fire Authority and concerned locals scoured the greater Ballarat area for several weeks.
Areas of focus have included Ballarat East, the Canadian Forest and Mount Helen, as people traversed dense forest, private land and walking tracks.
22-year-old man arrested and charged
A 22-year-old Ballarat man was arrested over Murphy's disappearance at 6am on 6 March. Police told media at 9.30am the following day about the arrest.
He was charged with one count of murder on 7 March and appeared before Ballarat Magistrates Court.
Prosecutors asked for 20 weeks to compile evidence to hand to the defence, because of the "significant amount of material" that needed to be analysed.
The man, whose name has been suppressed, was taken back into custody and will next face court on August 8.
Police say he is not linked to the Murphy family and they are not looking for an accomplice.
