Samantha Murphy: Husband of murdered mum still searches for her body every day
She vanished, allegedly murdered at the hands of a 22-year-old after heading out for a run through nearby bushland.
Two months later Samantha Murphy still hasn’t been found and her husband Michael leaves home every day to search for her.
He told the Herald Sun that while “nothing was going to bring her back” he had faith her body would be found.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.He said he understood the investigation would be drawn out, given the man charged with her murder Patrick Stephenson is apparently not talking.
“This whole scenario takes a long time,” he said. “It’s not a fast procedure.”
On Saturday the family celebrated Ms Murphy’s birthday without her.
“It’s the first things, the first birthday without Sam … any anniversaries without Sam,” he told the Herald Sun.
“That’s a hard thing but we’ve gotta face reality and realise she’s just not coming back,” he said.
Mr Murphy said he had been unable to return to work but was trying to be strong as the family attempted to move on with their lives.
Detectives believe Ms Murphy was killed on the day she disappeared.
She left her Eureka Street home in Ballarat East on February 4 to go for a 14km run. Her family reported her missing when she failed to attend a planned brunch that day.
Despite extensive searches of the nearby Woowookarung Regional Park, the 51-year-old has not been found.
Victoria Police have not revealed details of Ms Murphy’s alleged murder, only describing the crime as deliberate. Her alleged killer, Patrick Stephenson, is due to appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court on August 8.
