What life will be like in prison for Patrick Orren, accused of murdering mother-of-three Samantha Murphy
An ex-con has spoken out about what prison could look like for the man accused of killing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy.
Police arrested Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, on Wednesday in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Clear – about 5km from Ms Murphy’s home in Ballarat East in Victoria.
Stephenson, who has no connection to the Murphy family, was charged with murdering the mother of three on Thursday afternoon.
The arrest and murder charges marked the first major breakthrough in what became Victoria’s top priority police investigation since the 51-year-old vanished without a trace after leaving her home for a walk in nearby Woowookrung Regional Park about 7am on February 4.
He was taken from Ballarat to a Melbourne prison on Friday.
Reformed bank robber Russell Manser, who spent 23 years behind bars in prisons across the country, said Stephenson would likely be placed in a “protective unit” that would protect him from the wrath of other inmates.
“It will be a protected species,” Manser said.
“He will be out of sight and out of reach so no one can bash him or do anything bad to him.
Mother-of-three Samantha Murphy (pictured) vanished without a trace at about 7am on February 4 after leaving her Ballarat East home for a run at nearby Woowookrung Regional Park
Police arrested and charged 22-year-old Patrick Orren Stephenson (pictured) with Ms Murphy’s murder
Reformed bank robber Russell Manser (pictured) has revealed how he will be treated in prison
Manser’s comments come after Stephenson was arrested in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Clear, about five kilometers from Ms Murphy’s home.
He is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.
He appeared in court on Thursday wearing a bright orange striking worker’s coat, charged with murdering Ms Murphy on February 4, the day she disappeared.
It is understood Stephenson has repeatedly refused to co-operate with police and has given no indication of where Ms Murphy’s remains might be, the Sunday Herald Sun reports.
Stephenson (pictured centre, with his father Orren and mother Whitney) is the son of former AFL footballer Orren Stephenson and was also a well-known local footballer
Her family remains desperate for closure, while her husband, Mick Murphy, pleaded with Stephenson on Friday to cooperate with police.
‘We hope that he will change his mind a little and that he will cooperate. That will help bring her home,” he said.
“We’d like some more answers now.”
Victoria Police Chief Constable Shane Patton confirmed on Thursday that Stephenson had not disclosed the location of Ms Murphy’s body.
It is unclear what specific evidence led police to Stephenson’s arrest.
However, it is understood much of Victoria Police’s investigation involved CCTV footage from the East Ballarat area.
Officers recently obtained video of a light industrial and residential area, with homes and businesses on Elsworth, Joseph and Butt streets, showing that police requested their security footage.
Elsworth St leads into bushland managed by Parks Victoria.
It is not known whether the images obtained show Ms. Murphy or other vehicles of interest.
Officers also searched the area, including car detailers, roller doors and gymnasiums.
However, Commissioner Patton revealed that police would not proceed with the planned searches this weekend unless the location of Ms Murphy’s remains was otherwise discovered.
Dedicated volunteers have searched Ballarat bushland for five weeks but have found no trace of the missing mother.