At the start of the search, the dog squad, mounted branch, public order response team and motorcyclists from road policing command gathered at the operation’s base at Royal Park in Buninyong’s south.
“While someone has been charged in relation to Samantha’s disappearance, we remain committed to doing everything we can to locate her and return her to her family,” Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt said.
“Hopefully today’s search will benefit the investigation or provide further avenues of inquiry for police. We will also look at further searches in the Ballarat area as the investigation progresses.”
Since early February, a large local volunteer contingent and emergency services have undertaken intensive searches across Ballarat’s south-east in a bid to find Murphy.
Bushland behind the Buninyong Golf Club was one of the first search zones as the mother-of-three’s phone was thought to have last pinged there. Wednesday’s search area appeared to focus slightly further east of that area.
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Four days after Murphy failed to attend a family Sunday brunch, her husband, Mick, and eldest daughter, Jess, appealed for public help at an emotional press conference.
Missing persons detectives soon took control of the investigation from local police and the ground search was scaled back.
Hopes of finding Murphy alive were almost extinguished on February 23, when police said they suspected “one or more parties” were involved in her disappearance and they were doubtful she was still alive.
Phone data analysis then helped to direct the search to Mount Clear, further north of Buninyong and closer to Murphy’s home. But police did not announce any breakthroughs.
Early on March 6, officers arrested Stephenson, the son of ex-AFL player Orren Stephenson, at a home in Scotsburn – a farming community just east of Buninyong.
Police held Stephenson for a day, executing several search warrants, before charging him with murder.
Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said investigators allege Stephenson deliberately attacked Murphy at Mount Clear on the day she vanished.
Samantha Murphy was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East to go for a run about 7am on Sunday, February 4.
Patton said Murphy and her family did not know Stephenson.
This masthead has reported Stephenson was partying with friends in central Ballarat the night before Murphy disappeared.
A witness who had been approached by police, but asked not to be identified to protect his business, said investigators had visited Ballarat venues to collect footage of Stephenson on that Saturday night.
A social media post purporting to show Stephenson snorting a white substance off a mobile phone screen with friends has also circulated among the local community.
Police have seized a four-wheel-drive parked outside the property where Stephenson was arrested.
A magistrate initially suppressed Stephenson’s name, but his defence team withdrew their application at the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court the day after he was charged and first appeared. Stephenson was remanded in custody until his next court date on August 8.
With Alex Crowe
Source Agencies
