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The normally quiet town of Ballarat is in shock after a third woman died in suspicious circumstances in just two months.
The Victorian town’s name has an Aboriginal meaning of “place of rest”, but Ballarat hasn’t been sleepy at all in recent weeks.
A scorching summer day on February 4 was shattered by the disappearance of Samantha Murphy, a married mother of two who was last seen out for a run on Sunday morning.
Patrick Orren Stephenson was charged in March with Ms Murphy’s murder, but by then another tragedy had rocked the city.
Rebecca Young, 42, a mother of five, was killed in a suspected murder-suicide in Sebastopol, in the south of the city, on February 16. Suspected Bandidos gang member Ian Butler, 55, was also found dead.
The city was hit by a third tragedy on Friday after the body of bar worker Hannah McGuire was found in a burnt-out car on a rural road south of the city.
Her ex-boyfriend has since been charged with her alleged murder.
samantha murphy
Ms Murphy’s disappearance shocked the nation (and people around the world) after she went for a run on February 4 and did not return.
As the days and weeks passed, wild theories emerged on social media, including suggestions that he had fallen down a mine shaft or even deliberately disappeared.
But speculation came to an abrupt halt when Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was arrested at a house near Ballarat on March 6.
Stephenson, who has no connection to the Murphy family, is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, a respected member of the Ballarat community.
Police allege Ms Murphy was murdered on February 4 in Mt Clear.
Mrs Murphy’s disappearance shocked the nation
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was arrested at a house near Ballarat on March 6.
She would have turned 52 last week, but her family had to mark the day without her or even knowing where her body is, two months after she disappeared during her morning run in Ballarat East on February 4.
It was “the first birthday without Sam… That’s a difficult thing, but we have to face reality and realize that she just isn’t coming back,” her husband Mick Murphy told the Herald Sun.
He still searches for his wife’s body every day, while he and his family wait with hope for any news from the police.
Michael misses Samantha all the time, but tries to keep his spirits up, saying, “I need to be strong and take care of everyone around me.”
young cardigan
Ms Young, 42, was found dead inside a property on the outskirts of Ballarat on the night of February 16 alongside her partner Ian Butler, who has links to the Bandidos motorcycle gang.
It is understood she had been stabbed.
A neighbor told reporters outside the Sebastopol property that Ms Young’s distraught parents had arrived late on Friday night and were heard saying: “I told them to leave it.”
Neighbors also described “moans” coming from the house.
Ms Young, 42, was found dead inside a property outside Ballarat on the night of February 16.
Ian Butler, who has links to the Bandidos motorcycle gang, was also found dead.
It is understood other people called emergency crews at the Morgan St property and Butler, 55, is believed to have murdered Ms Young and then taken his own life.
Four other people, including two of Ms Young’s teenage children, were home at the time.
Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Hannah McGuire
Ms McGuire, 23, was found dead inside a burnt-out car near State Forest Rd, near Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat, shortly before 10am on Friday.
The bar worker’s ex-boyfriend, Lachie Young, 21, has since been charged with her murder.
They are understood to have recently separated.
Ms McGuire, 23, was found dead inside a burnt-out car near State Forest Rd, near Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat, shortly before 10am on Friday.
On the night Ms McGuire’s body was found, Young wrote on Facebook: “I will always love you until we meet again and make that heaven a very beautiful girl,” along with a photo of the couple and two hearts of love, the Herald Sun reported.
Police will allege in court that Young also sent text messages to friends of McGuire claiming she had ended her own life.
‘The police came to see me on Friday lunchtime and told me she had done it and was no longer with us. This is my fault,’ the message supposedly said.
Ms McGuire, who worked at the local pub, The National Hotel, had lived with Young until a week ago, when she moved out.
Clunes Cricket Club quickly organized a fundraising effort to support Ms. McGuire’s family with the cost of her funeral.
“Hannah was known by many as a bright young woman and had a heart of gold,” the post said.
The bar worker’s ex-boyfriend, Lachie Young, 21, has since been charged with her murder.
“As a club and community, we want to embrace the McGuire family and everyone close to Hannah.”
On Monday, Hannah’s Ballarat best friend Caitlyn Stepnell posted a heartfelt tribute to the youngster.
He posted on Facebook about the young teaching support officer: “You will always be a little sister to me.”
Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro said the Murphy case and the discovery of McGuire’s remains would have a “profound effect” on the community.
“I imagine they are floundering,” he told WhatsNew2Day Australia.
‘The discovery of the dead woman would be very stimulating for them. On a more generic level, people are probably wondering how safe it is in that part of the world.”
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