A man has been charged with the murder of a mum who was last seen heading out on a run.
Samantha Murphy, 51, disappeared on 4 February, leaving her home in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, after heading out for her early morning exercise.
She had left around 7am, but has not been seen since and police have still found no trace of the mum of three.
A 22-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday at his house, also in Ballarat, and he has since appeared in the local magistrates’ court.
It followed extensive searches from local police and volunteers over the past month.
Police said the man deliberately attacked Ms Murphy on the day she vanished in a bushland area in which she was known to exercise, ABC reported.
However, the man is said to have failed to disclose the location of Ms Murphy’s body.
Ms Murphy was last seen heading for a run early last month. Pic: Victoria Police
The last sighting of the mum was on CCTV, when she was seen wearing black leggings and a maroon shirt, ready for her run.
After she failed to return home later that day, authorities launched their hunt for her.
Her Apple watch, phone, and headphones, which she’d been carrying at the time, also remain missing.
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Ms Murphy’s disappearance has gripped Australia and even sparked some conspiracy theories over what took place.
Last month, her daughter Jess Murphy made an emotional plea for her to come home.
“Mum’s a really strong woman, and she’s far too determined to give up this fight. Mum, we love you so much, and we miss you. We need you at home with us. Please come home soon. I can’t wait to see you and to give you the biggest hug when I do,” News.com.au reported her as saying.
Following the arrest, Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt, of Crime Command, said: “Our thoughts today are with Samantha’s family and friends.
“I know that Samantha’s disappearance has had a profound impact on the Ballarat community and I want to thank all of those people who have assisted police in many different ways over the past month.”
I wonder if the police checked the river for Nicola Bulley using a giant magnet. That would have been much more efficient than all those divers and search dogs.
Well, it’s good to know that the police have finally found Nicola Bulley. It’s just a shame that it took them so long and that she’s no longer alive to see it.
I’m not convinced that the police are telling us the whole truth. There are still so many unanswered questions. I hope that an independent investigation is launched to get to the bottom of this.
Well, at least the police have given the family some closure. Now they can finally start to grieve and move on with their lives.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Nicola Bulley. I can’t imagine what they must be going through. I hope they can find some comfort in knowing that she has finally been found.
I think the police are jumping to conclusions. There’s no evidence to prove that Nicola Bulley fell into the river. They’re just trying to close the case quickly and avoid any further investigation.
I’m still trying to process this news. It’s so tragic and heartbreaking. Nicola Bulley’s family and friends must be going through a lot right now. My thoughts are with them during this difficult time.
Oh, so the police finally found Nicola Bulley? Congratulations to them for doing their job. It’s not like they had a massive search operation going on for weeks or anything.
I wonder if the police used a giant magnet to search the river for Nicola Bulley. That would have been much more efficient than all those divers and search dogs.
Here are some additional details about the case. Nicola Bulley was last seen walking her dog, Willow, along the River Wyre in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on January 27th. Her phone was found on a bench overlooking the river, still connected to a work call. Her dog was found nearby, unharmed.
The police have been saying she fell into the river since the beginning, but I’m not so sure. There are still so many unanswered questions. I hope they can get to the bottom of this and give her family some closure.
This whole case has been a mess from the beginning. The police have made so many mistakes and given conflicting information. It’s no wonder that people are losing faith in them.
It’s important to remember that the police are still investigating the case. We don’t know all the facts yet, so it’s too early to jump to conclusions. Let’s give them the time and space they need to do their job.
I’m sure the police are relieved to have found Nicola Bulley. It’s not like they had a huge team of officers and volunteers searching for her for weeks or anything.