Samantha Murphy: Major update in Ballarat mother’s alleged murder case as AFL player’s son is accused of killing her

The identity of the son of a former AFL player accused of murdering Samantha Murphy could soon be revealed as the search for his body continues.

Five weeks after disappearing after leaving her Ballarat East home, police on Thursday charged a 22-year-old man with murdering the mother-of-three in Mount Clear.

The 22-year-old’s family home is in Mount Clear while he lives in Scotsburn, about 10 miles from Ballarat.

He appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday, where his name was suppressed.

The Scotsburn man’s lawyer argued that revealing his name could prejudice his right to a fair trial and said his client had been in poor mental health since he was arrested.

But a court hearing Friday morning could reveal the identity of the alleged killer.

The man was returned to custody and will face a arraignment on August 8.

Missing persons squad detectives arrested the man, who is not linked to the Murphy family, at his home around 6am on Wednesday before charging him with murder.

The defendant has refused to reveal the location of Murphy’s body, Police Commissioner Shane Patton said.

“We are alleging a deliberate attack that caused Samantha’s death,” Patton told reporters Thursday.

Police and specialist detectives continue a desperate search for the body of Ms Murphy, who was last seen on February 4.

His body had not yet been found as of Friday morning.

“Investigations will continue at a very intense pace,” Mr Patton said.

“Doing everything we can to locate Samantha’s body for the family is absolutely vital.”

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the alleged murder.

Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson said news of the arrest was devastating but brought some closure to the community.

“What we heard yesterday is confirmation that Samantha will never come home to her family,” he told ABC News Friday morning.

“They will never have a beautiful mother, a beautiful wife to be with them.”

He urged the public to let the investigation take its course and avoid speculation.

Murphy’s husband, Michael, spoke Thursday of his relief following the arrest, describing the past few weeks as a “shitty house” and recounting how the community had rallied around his family.

Anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam footage from the time she disappeared, has been asked to come forward.

Following Murphy’s disappearance, weeks of extensive searching began around Ballarat, joined by trained emergency services workers and hundreds of concerned locals.

They combed dense bushes, private land and walking trails.

Ms Murphy’s disappearance was out of character as she had been described as physically and mentally fit, and was training for an upcoming race by doing 15km runs.

A vigil will be held in Ballarat on Friday night, near Ms Murphy’s home.