Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #12

[drsleuth]

Police scour treacherous conditions in targeted search for Samantha Murphy’s body

A scaled-back search into the remains of missing mother Samantha Murphy will resume tomorrow after police wrapped up a targeted operation in the Ballarat area today.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au

Police scour treacherous conditions in targeted search for Samantha Murphy’s body​

A scaled-back search into the remains of missing mother Samantha Murphy will resume tomorrow after police wrapped up a targeted operation in the Ballarat area today.​

 

[HoneyBunOne]

I wonder what made the police initially ask for CCTV / dash cam up til 7pm?? ( this article is dated 10/2 )

Search for missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy turns to dashcam footage as police ‘scale back’ on-the-ground operation

Mother-of-three, 51, was last seen leaving her Eureka Street home about 7am last Sunday to go for a run

www.theguardian.com

As they announced an on-the-ground search that has canvassed large areas of Ballarat would be scaled back over the weekend, police called on members of the public to submit any CCTV or dashcam footage covering the Ballarat East, Mount Helen and Buninyong areas last Sunday.
Family of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy make emotional plea for her return

“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,” they said in a statement on Saturday.

It does make you wonder why they didn't ask for at least all the daylight hours. Sunset on that day in Ballarat was 8.53pm, and it doesn't get fully dark until 20 minutes or more (roughly) after that time. I wonder how they come to a decision on the time frame for footage in any case? I'd like to think that anyone in the area would check their footage for anything suspicious on that day, and night, regardless of whether it was before or after 7pm.

 

[drsleuth]

It does make you wonder why they didn't ask for at least all the daylight hours. Sunset on that day in Ballarat was 8.53pm, and it doesn't get fully dark until 20 minutes or more (roughly) after that time. I wonder how they come to a decision on the time frame for footage in any case? I'd like to think that anyone in the area would check their footage for anything suspicious on that day, and night, regardless of whether it was before or after 7pm.

Yeah the 7pm is odd. Did they, some know how that she had already been moved & all done by than? Did they have PS in their sights back than?

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Police scour treacherous conditions in targeted search for Samantha Murphy’s body

A scaled-back search into the remains of missing mother Samantha Murphy will resume tomorrow after police wrapped up a targeted operation in the Ballarat area today.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au

Police scour treacherous conditions in targeted search for Samantha Murphy’s body​

A scaled-back search into the remains of missing mother Samantha Murphy will resume tomorrow after police wrapped up a targeted operation in the Ballarat area today.​

Scaled back? No! I wonder if that means they've covered most of the area in question?
This just makes me feel deflated. I was so hoping today would be the day.

 

[drsleuth]

DBM

 

[drsleuth]

Scaled back? No! I wonder if that means they've covered most of the area in question?
This just makes me feel deflated. I was so hoping today would be the day.

Hopefully not seeing they had a late start today.

 

[SouthAussie]

Scaled back? No! I wonder if that means they've covered most of the area in question?
This just makes me feel deflated. I was so hoping today would be the day.

Maybe they can't have 45 officers for more than a couple of days. So they have to reduce the numbers.

 

[mrjitty]

Sounds like a lead / insight that didn't pan out

 

[Porky1]

Thanks Lemony

This is a great but errie photo

View attachment 533289

AAP Photos

photos.aap.com.au

Which road is this?

 

[Porky1]

Yeah the 7pm is odd. Did they, some know how that she had already been moved & all done by than? Did they have PS in their sights back than?

Maybe his alibi covered him from 7pm from his girlfriend/family

 

[drsleuth]

Which road is this?

I don't know

 

[Porky1]

Scaled back? No! I wonder if that means they've covered most of the area in question?
This just makes me feel deflated. I was so hoping today would be the day.

Maybe they were successful in finding whatever they were looking for in this targeted search, maybe tomorrow just needs a particular team? Frustrating as it is, we won’t hear either way.

 

[drsleuth]

They have added some more photos to the AAP site

AAP Photos

photos.aap.com.au

More at link

Treloars rd & Mckerrals Rd

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[drsleuth]

I wonder if this business had CCTV of PS's car??

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[SouthAussie]

They have added some more photos to the AAP site

AAP Photos

photos.aap.com.au

View attachment 533300

View attachment 533301



View attachment 533303

View attachment 533304

View attachment 533305
More at link

Treloars rd & Mckerrals Rd

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

So this would be their 2nd search at Enfield State Park (that we know about). Such a huge place.

 

[drsleuth]

So this would be their 2nd search at Enfield State Park (that we know about). Such a huge place.

Yep it's huge

 

[Trooper]

Seems to me at least possible, that by now, VICPOL has a working concept of how long Stephenson had alone on that Sunday morning. One of the many things we don't know!!... with that parameter, ie. the time available to him without any witness, this is probably the radius they are working within, time = distance= out = back.

Vicpol would have narrowed down the area possible for him to travel, by whatever vehicle, or mode of transport , to dispose of the body, from Mt Clear to the burial site. It appears that VICPOL has decided that he went in a southerly direction, maybe that might change later on.....

 

[Trooper]

Not for one nanosecond do I believe VICPOL is being fed any information from the accused.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

They have added some more photos to the AAP site

AAP Photos

photos.aap.com.au

View attachment 533300

View attachment 533301



View attachment 533303

View attachment 533304

View attachment 533305
More at link

Treloars rd & Mckerrals Rd

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Does anyone else find it intriguing that despite stressing that they don't want members of the public out searching, VicPol have allowed this photo, with a clearly marked cross road showing the exact search area, to be released? Is it aimed to make a certain someone squirm? To lure an accomplice into making a move in that location? I can't see any other reason why this exact location would be shown. Thoughts?

 

[SouthAussie]

Does anyone else find it intriguing that despite stressing that they don't want members of the public out searching, VicPol have allowed this photo, with a clearly marked cross road showing the exact search area, to be released? Is it aimed to make a certain someone squirm? To lure an accomplice into making a move in that location? I can't see any other reason why this exact location would be shown. Thoughts?

I don't think there is any accomplice. I saw again in a SMH article just yesterday that police will allege PS acted alone. I will see if I can find the link and add it.

It is actually also in a news.com.au article .... (which I found more easily).
I think the journos must be getting this info from court documents/appearances.


Mr Stephenson, an electrician and the son of AFL player Orren Stephenson, remains behind bars and he is expected to appear in court again in November.

The police allege Mr Stephenson acted alone.

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/crime/victoria-police-launch-fresh-search-for-body-of-samantha-murphy/news-story/2ef6e5dc35dc35fd264b7c9acf3aea5a