A forensic psychologist says an upcoming court hearing into the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy could finally shed more light on the mother of three’s disappearance.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, is due to appear in Ballarat District Court on Thursday for a video link remand hearing on charges of murdering Ms Murphy.
Many hope this week’s hearing will provide answers to the question of why Stephenson might have killed her. He was arraigned on March 7, more than four weeks after the mother of three disappeared.
Ms Murphy disappeared without a trace after leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, Victoria, on the morning of February 4.
The 51-year-old had set off at 7am for her morning run through the nearby Woowookrung Regional Park, a 14km route she had run countless times before.
Months of desperate searches failed to find any trace of Mrs. Murphy’s body, with the only result being the mysterious discovery of her mobile phone near a dam.
Police have since released no information about the phone and other evidence that led to Stephenson’s arrest.
According to criminal psychologist Dr Tim Watson-Munro, the lack of physical evidence, such as Murphy’s body or a murder weapon, means prosecutors will rely primarily on technological evidence.
The alleged killer of missing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy (pictured) will appear in court on Thursday ahead of a hearing where police’s case against him will be revealed.
This may include tracing data relating to Ms Murphy and Stephenson’s phones.
“I think (the prosecution) are in for a very tough time now that there’s no body, no witnesses, no motive – or at least no motive that we may or may not know about,” Dr Watson-Munro told Daily Mail Australia.
‘And the absence of any record of an interrogation or any confession or admission relating to the alleged crime.
“There may be more evidence that we don’t know about yet. If that’s the case, I would reconsider my opinion.”
Patrick Orren Stephenson (pictured) is accused of murdering the mother of three after she disappeared on the morning of February 4 during a 14km run in Woowookrung National Park.
According to Dr Watson-Munro, the absence of a body is a concern for police.
“Usually, the police will find a body, a weapon, or other evidence that supports their claims. That can be enough for the suspect to start talking.”
He added that Ballarat residents’ searches had become extremely difficult over the past six months because the area is “full” of abandoned mines.
“Some of them are very deep… I guess it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” he said.
The case is one of Victoria Police’s highest priority criminal investigations, with the Missing Persons Unit working tirelessly to gather compelling evidence for the case.
A breakthrough in the case came after police searched a dam on a property south of Buninyong, about 14 kilometres from her home, on May 29.
Officers found a mud-smeared mobile phone in a wallet at the water’s edge, probably found by a police sniffer dog.
Police have remained tight-lipped about details of the evidence found during the investigation, but will be forced to reveal more at an upcoming hearing (Photo of police divers at a dam)
Shortly after the cell phone was found, police said in a statement that they had found a number of “objects of interest” during the search for the missing mother.
The phone and other items found during the search were subjected to forensic examination. Sources confirmed that the device belonged to Ms Murphy.
Many hoped the phone would lead to Murphy’s body, but police are tight-lipped about the evidence found on the device.
Police launched a series of “targeted searches” in the wooded area and on surrounding properties in the hope of finding the missing mother’s body or finding crucial evidence to bolster the case.
Police allege Stephenson ‘intentionally attacked’ Ms Murphy in Mount Clear, approximately 7km after she had been out for a run.
Stephenson, who has no connection to the Murphy family, was charged on March 7 with the murder of the mother of three.
He is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.
Stephenson, who remains in custody, has reportedly reserved the right to remain silent.
