How new ‘intelligence’ prompts police to search for a possible grave site for Samantha Murphy, just steps away from a place dear to her alleged killer’s loved ones
- Police search for remains in the Buningyong Bushland Reserve
- Search area just steps from where the accused murderer was arrested
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A remote area of bushland being searched for the remains of Samantha Murphy is just a stone’s throw from the house where her accused killer was arrested.
Victoria Police launched a new search in the Buninyong Bushland Reserve on Wednesday after saying they had received “new intelligence”.
Despite extensive search efforts by police and volunteers, no trace of the mother-of-three has been found in the six weeks since her disappearance.
The new search area is located along Webbs Hill Road, a one-lane dirt road Two miles from the home in Scotsburn, Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was house-sitting with his girlfriend when he was arrested on March 6.
Stephenson was charged with murder the following day, with police claiming he ‘intentionally assaulted’ Mrs Murphy, 51, in Mount Clear on February 4.
The new search area is on Webbs Hill Road, a single-lane unsealed road less than 2km from the Scotsburn home. Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, (pictured) was house-sitting with his girlfriend Meg Harbor when he was arrested on March 6.
Victoria Police launched a new search in the Buninyong Bushland Reserve on Wednesday
He was taken into custody and police allege he repeatedly refused to cooperate with police in their investigation into Ms Murphy’s remains.
Researchers were originally searching in the vast Woowookarung Regional Park, which is about 10km from the new search area.
The Buningyong Bushland Reserve is a relatively smaller area of bushland with a hidden dam and only a few properties scattered throughout its boundaries.
Police units are stationed in nearby Royal Park as dozens of specialist officers search the reserve.
“The search will focus on an area highlighted by intelligence from a number of sources,” a police statement said.
Members of the public who have been searching for Ms Murphy over the past six weeks have been advised not to take part in the latest search.
All available resources are being used, including missing persons investigators along with specialist officers from the Search and Rescue Unit, Mounted Unit, Dog Brigade, Public Order Response Team and motorcyclists from the Road Policing Command.
Detective Acting Chief Inspector Mark Hatt said police are determined to do ‘everything we can to locate her and return her to her family’.
No trace of Samantha Murphy (pictured) has been found in the six weeks since her disappearance, despite extensive search efforts by police and volunteers
“Since Samantha’s disappearance, extensive searches have been conducted in the Ballarat area and today we will be focusing on an area of bushland in Buninyong,” he said on Wednesday.
‘We will be using a range of specialist resources, but whilst we search for Samantha’s body we ask that the public do not attempt to take part in today’s search.
‘Hopefully today’s search will aid the investigation or provide further investigative opportunities for police.
“We will also be looking at further searches in the Ballarat area as the investigation progresses.”