Now police will enter the Enfield State Park area, with Victoria police saying the search will focus on an area “highlighted by intelligence derived from a number of sources”.
Detective acting Superintendent Mark Hatt told media the search would involve a number of detectives from the Missing Persons Squad and police from specialist areas.
“Since Samantha’s disappearance over two months ago, a range of searches and other enquiries have been undertaken in the Ballarat area as part of this investigation. This includes extensive large scale searches such as we have planned this week, but also smaller targeted searches focused in very specific areas.
“I want to assure those in the Ballarat community that police remain focused on doing everything we can to return Samantha to her family.”
Samantha Murphy was 51 years old.
Mount Clear, a semi-rural suburb, is 6km from where police have focused their search.
Police remained silent about the methods used to identify the accused man, but added the investigation remains ongoing.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said at the time a “painstaking and methodical investigation” led to the alleged killer’s arrest.
“I’m not going to identify what has specifically led us to this man, other than to say it has come about from painstaking detective work with great assistance from the public.”
They will allege he acted alone.
What we know about Patrick Stephenson
Stephenson is the only son of former AFL star Orren Stephenson, who made his debut in 2012 for Richmond before joining Geelong in 2013.
According to the Age, he would often bring his son Patrick to games and hang out at teams’ clubrooms where he would mix with the players.
His son followed in his footsteps and was regarded as a strong AFL player in his own right at a local level.
Patrick Orren Stephenson 22, has been charged with the murder of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy. The 51-year-old mother of three disappeared on February 4 after going for a run. Photo / Supplied
The alleged killer was reportedly living between his own home and his parent’s house when he was arrested.
Neighbours were left stunned, with some telling the Age the murder suspect lived a happy childhood and loved being around the AFL scene.
“I was totally amazed, I didn’t expect it at all, didn’t know what was going on, particularly when I got home [to the street] full of cars,” a neighbour said.
He was described as coming from a great family.
“They were wonderful, absolutely wonderful neighbours,” said one.
“I didn’t really know [the man], I only really know the girls.”
