The devastated husband of missing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy has revealed that a 22-year-old arrested over her disappearance has been charged with her murder.
Ms Murphy’s husband, Mick Murphy, was informed by homicide detectives about the development shortly before 2pm on Thursday.
When asked how he was feeling, Mt Murphy expressed a sigh of relief.
Murphy’s husband addressed the media Thursday afternoon outside the family home.
“The adrenaline with everything that’s been going on is just trying to be brave for everyone,” he told reporters outside his home in Ballarat East.
“It’s something you wouldn’t want anyone to experience.”
Police confirmed the alleged killer would appear in the Ballarat Magistrates Court charged with murder on Thursday afternoon.
Murphy said he found it difficult to communicate the stress the past month had placed on him and his family, but described his feelings now as relief.
‘It’s a relief). Definitely. It’s like something has released the pressure valve,” she said.
—It hasn’t been good for five weeks. Anyway, we are doing the best we can. Keeping a brave face.’
The news comes hot on the heels of John ‘Pud’ Robson, aged in his 80s, revealing to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday morning that the 22-year-old’s arrest had taken the family by surprise.
“My wife just texted me to tell me it was on the radio,” he said. “They haven’t told us and obviously they haven’t told Michael either.”
Murphy described the weeks since his wife’s disappearance as “shit.”
“To be honest, yes,” he said.
The devastated husband said he was eager to know the whereabouts of Mrs Murphy’s body as soon as possible.
Before returning home, Murphy again paid tribute to the Ballarat community who never gave up their search.
“Since the word ‘go’ it’s been just incredible… The generosity and support of the community has been overwhelming,” he said.
‘Friends, family, everyone. “There is a lot of respect for Sam, for us and for the family.”
Police confirmed the search for Murphy’s body continues.
“A 22-year-old Scotsburn man was arrested at his home shortly after 6am on Wednesday, March 6,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
‘He was subsequently questioned by police and charged with one count of murder. The man will appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court this afternoon. Police have not yet recovered Samantha’s body and the investigation is ongoing.
He comes hot on J’s heels.ohn ‘Pud’ Robson, aged about 80, revelations to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday morning the arrest of A 22-year-old man took the family by surprise.
“My wife just texted me to tell me it was on the radio,” he said. “They haven’t told us and obviously they haven’t told Michael either.”
However, at around 1.45pm on Thursday, Victoria Police detectives were seen arriving at the Murphy family home in Ballarat East, Victoria, to discuss the latest developments.
Robson said she was hopeful the arrest would provide some clarity about what had happened to her daughter.
But he said he had almost given up hope that Ms Murphy would be found safe and well, and believed that if his daughter were alive she would have found out by now.
“I can only hope that he is responsible because that way we could get some closure,” he said.
But he admitted: “It’s too late to think she might still be alive.”
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Samantha Murphy, who was last seen leaving her East Ballarat home on February 4.
Robson said he knew nothing about the man arrested by detectives and had been kept busy by returning to his job as a long-haul truck driver.
‘I still working. ‘I’m stuck in a truck on the other side of Avoca (70 kilometers north of Ballarat),’ he said.
“Unfortunately we haven’t heard anything,” he said shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday.
“The only thing my wife said was that she heard on Triple M (radio) that a guy had been arrested and no charges had been laid yet.”
Robson said he had no idea of any alleged link between the arrested 22-year-old man and his daughter.
—I haven’t the foggiest idea, friend. Not in that age range. I’m never home, you know what I mean,” she said.
Murphy’s father said he and his daughter’s husband, Mick Murphy (pictured), had not been told details of the arrest.
Police released this image of Ms Murphy from the morning she disappeared. Detectives believe ‘one or more parties’ are behind her mysterious disappearance
‘I don’t know. I just assume they caught him and are going to roast him for a while,” he said.
“If they have someone else in mind, that guy might move his gums without thinking.”
Addressing reporters outside their home on Thursday afternoon, Murphy’s husband Mick, 53, said his family was holding up as best they could.
“I can’t comment on anything at the moment,” he said. ‘The family is doing well. It’s just the unknown.’
Murphy said he would be happy to talk more about the past month when the legal process has run its course.
‘When it’s time to talk, we’ll talk, okay?’ he said.
Despite a major investigation and extensive searches in the Canadian forest area, no trace of Ms. Murphy has been found in over a month.
The 22 year old was arrested shortly after 6am on Wednesday at his Ballarat home by Missing Persons Squad detectives, Victoria Police said on Thursday.
He remains detained, although no charges have been filed.
The arrest marks the first significant development in the case that has sent shockwaves across Australia.
Ms Murphy, 51, left her home in Victoria’s Ballarat East to run 14km in nearby Woowookarung Regional Park about 7am on February 4, and has not been seen since.