February 14th, 2024Appeal for CCTV, dashcam to help find missing Samantha

Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad are appealing to the public to submit any CCTV or dashcam footage covering the Ballarat East, Mount Helen and Buninyong areas on Sunday February 4 in their search for missing woman Samantha Murphy.

Even if the footage does not depict Samantha, detectives are keen to review all footage in the areas between 7am and 7pm on Sunday, 4 February.

Police previously urged everyone in the Ballarat East and Mount Helen areas, particularly around the Canadian Forest, to check their CCTV for any possible sightings over the past six days however would now like to collect all footage.

The Missing Persons Squad will continue to work in conjunction with local police, as they have done since the early stages of her disappearance, as part of the effort to locate Samantha.

The specialist detectives will manage the investigation into her disappearance and will be embedded alongside local police, who will continue to lead the search when required.

The current phase of the active search for Samantha was scaled back over the weekend.

Despite extensive searches in the area over recent days, no sign of Samantha has been located.

Police continue to be in regular contact with Samantha’s family regarding the developments of the search and the status of the investigation.

The investigative stage of the investigation continues and as any new information comes to hand identifying areas of interest, the search will be scaled up.

While no sinister factors have been identified in Samantha’s disappearance at this time, there are significant concerns given the amount of time that has elapsed without her being sighted or any signs of her current whereabouts.

The 51-year-old was last seen leaving her property on Eureka Street to go for a run, about 7am Sunday, 4 February.

Police, with assistance from a number of other agencies, have conducted a search in the Canadian Forest area where Samantha was known to regularly run.

Following further information about possible run routes, on Wednesday 7 February the search moved to the nearby Mount Helen area to the east of Geelong Road.

Police have again released two images of Samantha in the hope someone recognises her and can provide any information about her movements since Sunday.