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Police arrest 22-year-old man over missing Australian mum Samantha Murphy

18:41 pm on 7 March 2024

Samantha Murphy, 51. Photo: Victoria Police / Supplied

Police have charged a 22-year-old man with the murder of missing Ballarat East woman Samantha Murphy.

Victoria Police arrested the man shortly after 6am on Wednesday at his Scotsburn home south of Ballarat.

He was questioned by police before being charged with one count of murder.

He is facing the Ballarat Magistrates' Court this afternoon (Australia time).

Murphy, 51, went missing on 4 February after leaving her Eureka Street home for a morning run.

Despite a significant investigation and extensive searches of the Canadian Forest area, no trace of the mother of three has been found.

"Police are yet to recover Samantha's body and the investigation remains ongoing," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

Speaking after the murder charge was laid, Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt said the force's thoughts were with Murphy's family and friends.

"Since Samantha's disappearance at the start of February, a significant search and investigation has been undertaken in an effort to find her," he said.

Detectives still appealing for dashcam and CCTV footage

The last sighting of Murphy came from CCTV footage outside her own home.

She was wearing a maroon running shirt, black leggings, and an Apple watch.

Murphy's phone, watch, and headphones have still not been found.

Her home is close to the northern border of the Woowookarung Regional Park, or Canadian Forest, where she was known to run.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.

This story was originally published by the ABC.