Police Examine Samantha Murphy’s Final Movements as Search Widens Across Ballarat Region

The search for missing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy has widened significantly as detectives intensify efforts to reconstruct her final known movements in the days before she vanished from her Ballarat East home. Now six days into the investigation, Victoria Police confirm that a “huge part” of their work involves analysing Murphy’s background, tracing her routine, and speaking with everyone who may have seen or communicated with her in the lead-up to her disappearance.

Murphy, 51, was last seen around 7 a.m. on Sunday morning, leaving her Eureka Street home dressed in running attire and carrying her phone and smartwatch. A regular jogger, she was expected to complete her usual route through the Canadian State Forest and surrounding bushland. When she failed to attend a planned family engagement later that day, her family alerted police, prompting an immediate search.

In the days since, the operation has grown into one of the region’s largest recent land searches, spanning heavily wooded terrain, fire tracks, and open reserves. Initial efforts centred on the Canadian State Forest and Woowookarung Regional Park—areas known to be part of Murphy’s typical running circuit. Specialist units, mounted police, air support, drones, and State Emergency Service volunteers have combed steep gullies, creek lines, and dense bushland, often working in humid conditions and slow-moving terrain.

On Friday, the search zone broadened again after new analysis confirmed that Murphy’s phone had pinged near the Buninyong Golf Course—approximately 14 kilometres south of her home—shortly after she was last seen. Telecommunications technicians have now joined the investigation, assisting detectives with mapping potential movement patterns through device data, tower connections, and digital time stamps.

Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt, who is overseeing the investigation through Serious Crime – Operations, said the Missing Persons Squad is now fully in charge of the inquiry. He confirmed that the Homicide Squad is not involved at this stage, stressing that police have found “no suspicious or sinister circumstances” so far.

However, Hatt said police continue to hold “significant concerns” for Murphy’s wellbeing given the length of time she has been missing and the difficult nature of the environment being searched. “Samantha is physically and mentally a fit and strong woman,” he added, dismissing speculation about potential health concerns that had circulated online. “There is no evidence she suffered a medical event.”

Instead, investigators are focusing heavily on reconstructing the days that preceded her disappearance. This includes mapping her routines, reviewing CCTV from businesses along key access routes, analysing digital records, and interviewing people who interacted with her recently. “A huge part of our investigation is digging into the background—working out Samantha’s movements in the days leading up to her disappearance, and also the people that know her,” Hatt explained. “Understanding her recent activity helps us narrow down the search and identify anything unusual.”

Local residents and trail users have been encouraged to provide any CCTV, dashcam footage, or information that may help refine the timeline. Police have urged community members not to conduct independent searches in dense bushland due to safety risks and the potential to disturb evidence. Instead, they are asked to report anything that may be relevant.

The search effort remains intensive. Police and SES personnel continue to work across challenging terrain marked by thick understory vegetation, uneven surfaces, and multiple intersecting tracks. Each new area requires slow, methodical inspection, often retracing steps to ensure nothing is overlooked. Officers have described parts of the region as “complex” and “difficult to navigate,” contributing to the time-consuming nature of the search.

Murphy’s family remains in close contact with police and has asked for privacy as the operation continues. Detectives say they are regularly updating the family and offering support. “We understand how distressing this is,” Hatt said. “Every available resource is being deployed to find Samantha.”

As the search enters its seventh day, investigators continue to review new information and adjust search zones accordingly. While no major breakthroughs have been announced, police emphasise that the operation remains active and wide-ranging. For Ballarat residents, the ongoing effort reflects both deep concern and strong community resolve.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.