<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
Four simple words in a new police statement provide a glimmer of hope that missing Victorian mother Samantha Murphy may still be alive.
Ms Murphy left her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East on February 4 to go jogging at Woowookarung Regional Park and has not been seen since.
The statement Thursday morning said “anyone who sees Samantha” should call police at triple zero immediately.
Missing persons detectives arrested a 22-year-old Ballarat man at his home about the “suspicious disappearance” of the mother-of-three on Wednesday about 6am.
Police said the man remains in custody but no charges have yet been filed.
Samantha Murphy from Ballarat has been missing since February 4 after going for a run
Despite a major investigation and extensive searches in the Canadian bush area, no trace of the 51-year-old man has been found.
Police said there are no further updates at this time and the investigation remains ongoing.
Police added that they “have also spoken to several people as part of this investigation.”
‘Detectives continue to appeal for anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage and has not yet spoken to police to come forward.
“Anyone with any other information regarding her disappearance is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.”
The police search for Ms Murphy was “scaled down” shortly after her disappearance and detectives said they would only increase the search based on specific information.
But last month, a community-led group of volunteers continued the search, painstakingly combing bushland around Ballarat.
Wearing high-visibility jackets, long pants, backpacks and hats, about 300 searchers gathered at Ballarat’s Eureka Stockade Memorial Park on February 24 with metal detectors and a sniffer dog.
On the morning she disappeared, CCTV footage captured the mother wearing a brown T-shirt and black half-length leggings outside her home.
About an hour after he began jogging, phone data showed Murphy reached the Mount Clear area, about 7 kilometers from his home, but from there his trail was lost.
On February 8, eldest daughter Jess Murphy joined her father in a public appearance to urge anyone with information about her mother’s whereabouts to come forward.
In an emotional speech, Jess described her “mom” as a “really strong woman” who is “too determined to give up this fight.”
‘Mom, we love you very much and we miss you. We need you home with us. Please, she comes home soon. “I can’t wait to see you and give you the biggest hug when I do,” she said.
And to scold you for causing us so much stress. I love you.’
Mr Murphy shared his passionate plea, saying: “People just don’t disappear into thin air. Someone has to know something.
‘If it’s any little thing you might consider relevant, just call the police and tell them. It will give us a little peace of mind, some hope.