Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat 100km NW of Melbourne, 4 Feb 2024 #3

[Cedars]

Good point and I did consider that however my question would be 'how long was it before the police were able to get phone data''? Were they searching in areas the family could have suggested? ie a few of her local running routes

First, I don't think the golf course would have been a normal route, it seems too far from her home.

I don't know all the details about getting info on past use of a phone, ie prior to when police started their investigation.

But it seems to me, the first thing they'd do would be to look for a phone signal in real time, ie where is the phone now? So, IMO, a ping on a tower that evening would be forwarded directly to police. Similar to, when they place a trace on someone's bankcards, they are alerted when a new withdrawl takes place. That's different, and easier, than requesting historical records of past banking, which requires a special search warrant showing why they absolutely need that data.

JMO

 

[bearbear]

It’s not random they declared husband a person of interest i saw. Not only him but everyone they know. I think it’s mostly him though. Sam Murphy's husband person of interest along with family and friends

i agree, its a weird statement, they either suspect him or they dont,
if they truely dont, then they would adamantly state this

 

[Cedars]

i agree, its a weird statement, they either suspect him or they dont,
if they truely dont, then they would adamantly state this

But why would they do that? LE aren't eager to share all the details with the public, they just acknowledge the necessity of meeting with the media, basically saying over and over 'that's none of your business'. They keep asking, over and over, for people to stop speculating.

JMO

 

[pavlovsdaughter]

I’m surprised no one has mentioned apps like Strava. If she is a serious runner, which it sounds like she is, it’s certainly possible she used an app like Strava to track her workouts. Strava tracks your runs and also posts them to a feed where others can see - if your profile is public then anyone on Strava can see it, or you can set your profile to friends only. It also shows a map of your route and connects you with other runners who have run the same route. If she was using an app like this and she was regularly running this route it’s 100% possible someone knew her running schedule, location, and even pace. Furthermore if, for example, she was snatched while Strava was running, it would still have been tracking her GPS data at the time.

Example of what a Strava running map looks like.

 

[Dotta]

"The area police will be searching is not new and has already been searched extensively,
however this time it will be searched for smaller items that could reveal what happened to Ms Murphy.

'That area has been searched for Samantha herself and we have not found her in that area',
Superintendent Hatt said.

Superintendent Hatt said police have been in touch with Samantha Murphy’s family 'every day'.

'[They’re] obviously very upset.

As time goes on the chances of finding Samantha are more limited, so they are very distraught, and we understand that'.

Detectives have urged anyone travelling through the area, particularly between 7am and 7pm on February 4, who may have dash-cam footage, to also check this for possible sightings.

Several items have been found during the search for Samantha, however these have since been assessed and at this time are not believed to be related to her disappearance.

There is no evidence to suggest Murphy’s disappearance is linked to any other incidents in the area at this time."

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/crime/police-search-new-area-for-clues-in-samantha-murphy-disappearance/news-story/1732d04e62062b2133033ea34c4b767c

 

[bearbear]

But why would they do that? LE aren't eager to share all the details with the public, they just acknowledge the necessity of meet

but why let people think that about her family, what i mean is, the statement about them and him all being pois seems odd unless one or some of them are actual suspects?

 

[inkpink]

She probably did. But IMO far fetched to suspect a disgruntled employee or customer.

These kinds of “revenge” crimes are normally more spur of the moment, not carefully planned and rarely result in harming people or murder (more likely smashed windows, cars, business premises and homes) as far as I know.

It seems this is someone/ a party closer to her who wanted her gone for a reason and planned this.

This murder in Warburton, Victoria was a revenge killing for a firing that had happened 5 years earlier.

The perp travelled from interstate, killed the victim and then killed himself.

Victorian dad remembered as a ‘gentle giant’ after his shock murder

‘For such a beautiful person’s life to be ripped away from us so quickly is tragic.’

7news.com.au

 

[Cedars]

but why let people think that about her family, what i mean is, the statement about them and him all being pois seems odd unless one or some of them are actual suspects?

Until they've solved the case, and made all arrests, LE never, ever, publicly, 'rule someone out'.

Anything is possible. Police solve crimes based on evidence, not on suspicious
feelings. New evidence could emerge at any moment, turning their investigation upside down. They can't go to the public and say 'you know how we ruled that person out, before. Well guess what, we changed our minds. We suspect them now.'

Not only would that completely undermine their credibility, but it would give the game away to the perp, who could find all about the investigation by watching the news conferences.

JMO

 

[Bats]

but why let people think that about her family, what i mean is, the statement about them and him all being pois seems odd unless one or some of them are actual suspects?

I agree it is an ambiguous statement though it is the language Police use these days. The word 'suspect' doesn't seem to get used until an arrest is made and before charges are laid. A POI can be anyone that is able to provide meaningful information about the subject.

 

[Detective Willy]

I have been thinking about the extra detectives being brought in yesterday as they believe the investigation will be "complex" and may go on for an extended period.

Maybe they are going through the books and records of the business to see if there are any trends or links. As an example - could someone have been paid to make Sam disappear?

Untangling financial records can be complex and go on for an extended period..

 

[Dotta]

Better not to be a POI
I would hate it if Police found me "interesting" hehe

Really,
I always thought a POI is an euphemism for a suspect.

Still not charged,
but, nevertheless, a person Police are focusing on.

JMO

 

[PolyDot]

i agree, its a weird statement, they either suspect him or they dont,
if they truely dont, then they would adamantly state this

I do recall them publicly clearing Cleo’s parents

 

[Kemug]

AFP showcases frontline crime fighting canines keeping Australians safe | Australian Federal Police

The AFP has today at Australian Parliament House showcased the skills and dedication of canines trained in world-leading technology detection and new high risk explosive detection. Images are available via Hightail.

www.afp.gov.au

AFP NCO also demonstrated the AFP’s world-class Technology Detection Dog (TDD) capability. TDDs can find memory storage devices such as USBs, hard drives, mobile phones, storage device cards and SIM cards.


“Only the very best detection dogs are capable of becoming a TDD. The AFP has 13 TDDs that are deployed across Australia,” Commander Turner said.

Very clever doggies - although Garfield might beg to differ!

 

[butterstick]

Oh dear, the whole POI thing makes me very sad for the daughter.

 

[Kemug]

She probably did. But IMO far fetched to suspect a disgruntled employee or customer.

These kinds of “revenge” crimes are normally more spur of the moment, not carefully planned and rarely result in harming people or murder (more likely smashed windows, cars, business premises and homes) as far as I know.

It seems this is someone/ a party closer to her who wanted her gone for a reason and planned this.

There have been numerous cases in USA where a person who lost their job came back with a gun and killed a number of people.

 

[Liadan]

After assessing evidence and the information they collect from the person of interest, the police may find a party they believe committed the crime. This is a suspect. A person of interest may help the police find the suspect or may turn out to be one

 

[Deleted member 293720]

View attachment 485442
Photograph from "The Age" Instagram account

 

[SouthAussie]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>This new Herald Sun article says that a forensic specialist could be seen gathering samples of tree sap from the ground at about 11:30am today.

The police were also stopping periodically to probe patches of grass or leaves. Looking for Sam's phone and Apple watch.

This is in the Woowookarung Regional Park in Mount Clear.

They look to be scouring the sides of the track in the photos.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/police-to-search-mount-clear-in-hunt-for-missing-ballarat-mum-samantha-murphy/news-story/081b225e374149e11f78eaf000a50511?amp

 

[jjleroche]

Vicpol have been very good at closing all of the Vic cases I have followed here. Sometimes it has taken them 1/2/3 years to do so, but I haven't closely followed a high profile case of theirs yet that they haven't achieved a result that can be prosecuted.

imo

That is one of the reasons I had for believing that MM did not murder his wife. (There are other reasons also.)
As far back as I can recall, when it comes to murder cases, Vicpol have always got their man/woman, sooner or later.

Had he had any inclination to do away with his wife, he would have been well aware that Vicpol would have him, and any associates under intense scrutiny from day one, and sooner for later the net would close in.

I think there's something more complex which occurred. JMO

 

[BreakingNews]

I recall she had also mentioned the night before that she was going for a 14km run. That would make Mt Clear her half way mark / turnaround point.

Do you have a link for this, please?