LATEST @ 1.15 PM | A man has now been charged with murder over the disappearance of missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.
The 22-year-old was arrested at his home in the regional city on Wednesday and spent the night in custody.
He was subsequently interviewed by police and charged with one count of murder on Thursday.
The man will front Ballarat Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
Police have confirmed they’re still yet to recover Samantha’s body, with investigations ongoing.
“Today’s charge follows a significant investigation and extensive searches of the Canadian Forest area over the past month,” police said.
“These searches have involved a range of specialist units from across Victoria Police and many local community members have also volunteered their time to assist the search”.
The mother of three has been missing for more than a month after failing to return home from an early morning run in the Woowookarung Regional Park on February 4.
EARLIER @ 8.30 AM | A man has been arrested in relation to the disappearance of missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.
Victoria Police have confirmed the 22-year-old man was detained at a home in the regional city on Wednesday.
“Missing Persons Squad detectives have arrested a man as part of their investigation into the suspicious disappearance of Ballarat East woman Samantha Murphy,” police said.
“A 22-year-old Ballarat man was arrested shortly after 6am yesterday morning at his home address”.
He remains in custody, however no charges have been laid at this stage.
The mother of three has been missing for more than a month after failing to return home from an early morning run in the Woowookarung Regional Park on February 4.
A major missing persons investigation has been underway ever since, however, despite extension searches of the Canadian Forest area, no trace of the 51-year-old has been found.
More to come.
