Man, 22, accused of murdering missing mother Samantha Murphy
The shattered husband of missing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy has revealed a 22-year-old arrested over her disappearance has been charged with her murder.
Mrs Murphy’s husband, Mick Murphy, was informed of the development by homicide detectives just before 2pm on Thursday.
When asked how he felt, Mount Murphy breathed a sigh of relief.
“The adrenaline of everything that’s going on, just trying to be brave for everyone,” he told reporters outside his Ballarat East home.
“It’s something you don’t want anyone to experience.”
Police confirmed the alleged killer would appear in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon charged with murder.
Mr Murphy said he found it difficult to convey the stress the past month had had on him and his family, but now described his feelings as one of relief.
‘It’s (a relief). Certainly. It’s like something has released the pressure valve,” he said.
‘It hasn’t been this good for five weeks. In any case, we do it as best we can. Keeping a brave face.”
The news follows revelations from John ‘Pud’ Robson, in his 80s, to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday morning that the 22-year-old man’s arrest had taken the family by surprise.
“My wife just texted me to say it had been on the radio,” he said. “We weren’t told and apparently Michael wasn’t told either.”
Mr Murphy described the weeks since his wife went missing as “shithouse”.
“To be honest, yes,” he said.
The devastated husband said he was keen to know the whereabouts of Mrs Murphy’s body as soon as possible.
Before returning to his home, Mr Murphy again paid tribute to the Ballarat community who never gave up the search for Ms Murphy.
“From the word ‘go’ it was just incredible… The generosity and support from the community was overwhelming,” he said.
It comes on the heels of John ‘Pud’ Robson, in his eighties, reveals Daily Mail Australia announced the arrest of the The 22-year-old man had surprised the family.
“My wife just texted me to say it had been on the radio,” he said. “We weren’t told and apparently Michael wasn’t told either.”
However, around 1.45pm on Thursday, Victoria Police detectives were seen arriving at the Murphy family home in Ballarat East, Victoria, to discuss the latest developments.
Mr Robson said he remained hopeful the arrest would provide some clarity about what happened to his daughter.
But he said he had given up hope that Mrs Murphy would be found safe and sound – and believed that if his daughter was alive he would have heard about it by now.
“I can only hope he’s the man responsible because that way we might get some closure,” he said.
But he admitted: ‘It’s a bit too late to think she might still be alive.’
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Samantha Murphy, who last left her East Ballarat home on February 4.
Mrs Murphy’s husband spoke to the media outside the family home on Thursday afternoon
Mr Robson said he knew nothing about the man arrested by detectives and had kept busy by returning to his job as a long-distance truck driver.
‘I’m still working. I’m stuck in a truck on the other side of Avoca (70km north of Ballarat),” he said.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything,” he said just before 11 a.m. on Thursday.
‘My wife just said she heard it on Triple M [radio] that they arrested a guy and no charges have been filed yet.”
Mr Robson said he had no idea of any alleged links between the 22-year-old man who was arrested and his daughter.
‘I don’t have the slightest, mate. Not in that age range. “I’m never home, if you know what I mean,” he said.
Mrs Murphy’s father said he and her daughter’s husband, Mick Murphy (pictured), were not told details of the arrest
Police released this photo of Ms Murphy from the morning she disappeared. Detectives believe that ‘one or more parties’ are behind her mysterious disappearance
‘Don’t know. I’m just assuming they grabbed him and are going to grill him for a while,” he said.
“If they have someone else in mind, that guy might just pop his gums without thinking.”
Speaking to reporters outside his home on Thursday afternoon, Murphy’s husband, Mick, 53, said his family was coping as best they could.
“I can’t say anything at this point,” he said. ‘The family is doing well. It’s just the whole unknown.”
Mr Murphy said he would like to talk more about the past month as the legal process has run its course.
“When it’s time to talk, we’ll talk, okay?” he said.
Despite a significant investigation and extensive searches of Canadian forestland, no trace of Ms. Murphy has been found for more than a month
The 22 year old was arrested at his Ballarat home shortly after 6am on Wednesday by detectives from the Missing Persons Squad, Victoria Police said on Thursday.
He remains in custody, but no charges have been filed.
The arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the case that has sent shockwaves across Australia.
Ms Murphy, 51, left her home in Ballarat East, Victoria, about 7am on February 4 to go for a 14km run at nearby Woowookarung Regional Park and has not been seen since.