Samantha Murphy’s accused killer has been hit with new charges in connection with an alleged drug and alcohol-fueled binge last year.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, accused of murdering Ms Murphy, has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs after he allegedly crashed a motorcycle into a tree on the night of October 1 after the big AFL final.
He has also been charged with reckless driving.
Ms Murphy, a beloved mother of three, was last seen leaving her home in Eureka Street, Ballarat East, to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, 125 kilometers west of Melbourne, on the morning of the 4th. of February.
The 51-year-old went for a 14km run in nearby Woowookarung Regional Park at around 7am that morning and hasn’t run since.
detectivescaccused Stephenson of her murder in March after he was arrested. in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Clear, about 5 kilometers from Ms Murphy’s home.
Patrick Orren Stephenson (pictured) has been charged with new charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs a month after being charged over the death of Samantha Murphy.
He has since received three new charges after he allegedly crashed a motorcycle he was riding into a tree last year, police said. Herald of the sun reported.
No other vehicles were involved.
A friend told the newspaper the accident allegedly occurred after Stephenson attended the AFL grand final celebration.
Celebrations reportedly began around lunchtime on October 1 and are believed to have continued well into the night at a Ballarat bar.
Police responded to the scene of the accident and conducted a breathalyzer test, which Stephenson allegedly failed.
He was taken to Ballarat police station, where he allegedly tested positive for drugs.
WhatsNew2Day Australia is not suggesting Stephenson has been involved in any crime, only that charges have been laid.
He has not yet pleaded guilty to the new charges.
Victoria Police would not confirm any details about the new charges against Stephenson when contacted for comment by WhatsNew2Day Australia on Thursday evening.
Ms Murphy’s body (pictured left) has not been found after she went for a run at Woowookarung Regional Park, in Ballarat, Victoria, on February 4.
The latest twist comes as police continue to search for the body of Ms Murphy, who has been abandoned in the Victorian bush for three months on Saturday, with no trace of her having been found.
Despite numerous searches, Victoria Police detectives appear no closer to finding her body despite having her alleged killer in custody.
A Victoria Police spokesperson told WhatsNew2Day Australia this week that the investigation remained “very active and ongoing”.
“We continue to do everything possible to locate her,” the spokesperson said.
It is understood Stephenson has continued to maintain his right to remain silent as he awaits his next court appearance in September.
Detectives from Victoria Police’s Missing Persons Unit have been in a race against time to find Ms Murphy’s body.
In the three months since her disappearance, the area around Ballarat has suffered heatwaves, bushfires and heavy rain as search teams tried to retrace her steps.
Wild animals, including foxes, are also known to have large populations in the dense thickets of forests surrounding Ballarat.
If left uncovered in the harsh jungle, experts believe a body can quickly decompose, destroying important DNA evidence.
“The time it takes for a body to decompose depends on climatic conditions, such as temperature and humidity, as well as accessibility to insects,” the Australian Museum said.
“In summer, a human body in an exposed place can be reduced to bones in just nine days.”
Experts believe that if Ms Murphy’s body has been buried or dumped in one of Ballarat’s many mine shafts, detectives could still extract important evidence.
“A body buried 1.2 meters underground retains most of its tissue for a year,” the museum stated.
The search for Samantha Murphy’s body
Police search for clues in Buninyong during another search in March
Police have been forced to navigate rugged terrain in search of Ms Murphy’s body.
While insects can decimate a buried or discovered body, wild animals are also a real threat in the area where Ms. Murphy disappeared.
Last month, police bSpecialist cadaver dogs from New South Wales were used to scour the Victorian bush in multiple locations in dense bushland spanning a vast expanse of countryside.
Teams of officers focused their search on Enfield State Park, 30 kilometers south of Ballarat, but another search team was also working 25 kilometers away, in thick bushland in the Durham Lead Nature Conservation Reserve.
The nature reserve is just south of Buninyong, where Ms Murphy’s phone was last detected by mobile phone towers at 5pm on the day she disappeared.
Detectives are in a race against time to find Ms Murphy’s body (pictured) and Victoria Police confirm the investigation into her disappearance remains ongoing.
Mick Murphy speaks during a demonstration against male violence on April 12
Ms Murphy’s long-suffering husband, Mick Murphy, recently told Nine News he had not stopped looking for her.
“On that particular day, I was outside and I thought she was coming down the road pretty soon,” he said.
—Then he didn’t do it.
Mr. Murphy stillSearch daily, whether driving around town or walking two hours through a pine plantation.
‘Sometimes I go for a drive and it may not be anywhere specific, or I go for a two-hour walk. It varies every day,’ she said.
“It’s very good for my mind and if I stayed home I wouldn’t be doing myself any favors.”
Missing Persons Unit Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt has previously stated that police would never stop searching for Ms Murphy.
“I want to reassure members of the Ballarat community that police remain focused on doing everything possible to return Samantha to her family,” he said last month.
Stephenson, son of former Geelong and Richmond AFL player Orren Stephenson, will return to court for a committal mention on August 8.
Anyone with any information regarding Ms. Murphy’s disappearance is You are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
