Missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy: Heartbreaking moment daughter Jess breaks down – as husband Michael Murphy says 'people just don't disappear into thin air'

The eldest daughter of missing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy has broken down in tears as she begged her mother to come home – five days after she disappeared.

Jess Murphy joined Samantha's husband, Mick, in addressing the disappearance of the East Ballarat woman, who vanished after going jogging near her home at 7am on Sunday.

“Mom is a very strong woman, and she's way too determined to give up this fight,” Jess said.

Ms Murphy, 51, has not been seen since she left her Ballarat East home at 7am on Sunday to go for a run in a national forest on the outskirts of the regional city, west of Melbourne.

“Mom, we love you so much and we miss you. We need you at our house. Please come home soon. I can't wait to see you and give you the biggest hug when I do,” Jess said.

“And to thank you for causing us so much stress. I love you.'

Moments earlier, her father made an impassioned plea for information from the public that could help find his wife.

'People don't just disappear into thin air. Somebody has to know something,” he said.

“Whether it's something small that you think is relevant, just call the police and let them know. It will give us a little peace of mind and hope.”

Jess broke down in tears as she bravely faced the media group outside the Ballarat West police station.

Her father placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her as she read from a statement on her phone.

Jess said she still had high hopes that her mother would be found alive and well, despite the search now entering its fifth day.

“Mum is a very strong woman and she is far too determined to give up this fight,” she said.

“I know she's out there somewhere, so if you could please keep looking for her to give us something to work with, we would really appreciate it.”

Speaking to the media to the Murphy family, Acting Inspector Lisa McDougall said Ms Murphy's disappearance was not being treated as suspicious, but refused to say why.

The inspector reiterated a “no comment” response as reporters pressed her for information on how and why police believe the doting mother disappeared.

“No suspicious circumstances have been identified at this stage,” she said.

Inspector McDougall also refused to say whether police had obtained any further information from Ms Murphy's phone, airpods or watch.

“I will not comment on those specific details, but I will say that this constitutes the entire investigation and the information we are using to guide our search.”

Inspector McDougall further declined to say whether Ms Murphy had accessed her bank accounts since Sunday and would not speculate on why Ms Murphy may not want to be found.

“There is nothing I can comment on at this time,” she said.

If the police had even considered foul play, Inspector McDougall admitted it could not have been ruled out.

“We're keeping an open mind,” she said.

Inspector McDougall suggested women thinking about going out alone in the Ballarat area should feel comfortable doing so.

“I'm not going to say what people can and can't do,” she said.

'No suspicious circumstances have been identified at this time. It is up to people to assess their safety and comfort level.”

On Wednesday evening, police released new CCTV footage which they believe shows Ms Murphy running past a neighbour's house.

The footage, which is unclear, was captured at about 7.16am on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, near the intersection with Warrenheip Rd.

That was fifteen minutes after the 51-year-old had started her Sunday run.

It showed her running northeast toward Yankee Flat Road.

However, the direction she ran was opposite to where police had concentrated their searches in an area between the Canadian Plantation and Yankee Flat Rd.

“That CCTV footage is being examined and analyzed to see if it is relevant and we are still waiting for absolute confirmation that this is Sam,” Inspector McDougall said.

Police again appealed to the public to come forward with any other footage they may have obtained from home cameras and dashcams.

A large-scale search operation involved the Search and Rescue Squad, local police, more than 100 specialist officers from the Dog Brigade, Mounted Unit, Solo Unit and Air Wing.

SES crews and teams from Forest Fire Management Australia and Parks Victoria have also joined the search.

The Ballarat community has come together, with a growing number of residents and Ms Murphy's friends joining the search.

Ms Murphy is described as white, approximately 173cm tall, with a slim build and shoulder-length blond hair.

Anyone who sees her is asked to contact police immediately.