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Missing Persons Squad detectives will today lead a targeted search in the Mount Clear area as part of their investigation into the suspicious disappearance of Ballarat East woman Samantha Murphy.
This extensive search will involve a significant number of detectives from across Crime Command and other specialist commands, as well as local police.
They will focus on an area highlighted by intelligence derived from phone data.
Extensive searches have been carried out throughout the Canadian Forest area since Samantha’s disappearance almost three weeks ago, however no trace of her has been located at this time.
These searches have involved a variety of specialist units from across Victoria Police and many members of the local community have also volunteered their time to assist in the search.
The 51-year-old woman was last seen leaving her property on Eureka Street to go for a run, around 7am on Sunday, February 4.
Samantha was known to run regularly in the Canadian forest area.
Police are treating her disappearance as suspicious due to the length of time she has been missing and since no trace of her has been found.
The Missing Persons Squad has primacy of investigation and that team has been further expanded with experienced detectives from various Crime Command units and other specialist areas.
The team will also continue to work closely with local police.
Investigators are currently reviewing around 12,000 hours of CCTV footage and following up on more than 500 separate pieces of information.
Police are re-releasing two images of Samantha in the hope that someone recognizes her and can provide information about her movements since Sunday, February 4.
Samantha Murphy disappeared without a trace on February 4
Samantha Murphy’s husband Mick Murphy addresses the media
Police released this image of Ms Murphy from the morning she disappeared.
