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Hundreds of friends and strangers have gathered to honor mother Samantha Murphy, as investigators continue to search for her body.
The Ballarat community held a vigil to honor the life of the mother of three at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Garden on Friday night.
Flowers were laid in Ms Murphy’s honor by those who had gathered, many of whom did not know the family but felt compelled to pay their respects.
Flowers were laid in Mrs Murphy’s honor by those who had gathered, many of whom did not know the family but felt obliged to pay their respects.
Attendees paid tribute to Samantha Murphy in a memory book
Hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to the mother-of-two in the days after police announced they had found her killer.
Mrs. Murphy disappeared on February 4
Many who gathered did not know the family but felt compelled to pay their respects.
A book was also placed on a table next to two portraits of the 51-year-old for people to share their condolences with the Murphy family.
Those who arrived early were seen taking a moment to quietly reflect.
Many hugged each other as the community gathered, and some shed tears at the gravity of the night.
Organizers had planned to provide a space for the community to gather and grieve.
Attendees paid their respects using their torches during a moment of silence.
Community leaders were also seen paying their respects in the crowd, including Ballarat MP Catherine King, Eureka MP Michaela Settle and Wendouree MP Juliana Addison.
The vigil comes as Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged Thursday with the 51-year-old’s murder.
The vigil comes as Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with the murder of the 51-year-old man.
A vigil for Samantha Murphy was held in Ballarat on Friday night.
Mourners lay flowers in memory of the mother of three.
A child holds his mother as mourners line up to pay their respects to Samantha Murphy in Ballarat Victoria.
Ms Murphy went missing on February 4 after failing to return to her Eureka St home after a morning run through Woowookarung Regional Park.
His family alerted authorities when they became concerned about his disappearance.
Police will allege Stephenson killed Murphy on February 4, who remains in custody.
Despite extensive searches in the bush since her disappearance, not a single trace of her has been found.
Police and volunteers continue the exhaustive search to bring peace to Ms Murphy’s family.
The line to get to the memory book was long as mourners gathered to pay their respects.
Hundreds of friends and family have honored mother Samantha Murphy, who investigators believe was murdered.
READ MORE: Five unanswered questions about Samantha Murphy
Ms Murphy’s disappearance from her home in East Ballarat, 70 miles northwest of Melbourne, on February 4 sparked a colossal search operation as hundreds of police officers, SES workers and volunteers scoured nearby bushland.