Samantha Murphy: Search for mum’s body intensifies as expert Xanthe Mallett explains a killer’s ‘comfort zone’ in committing this type of crime
Police will continue their search for the body of missing mother Samantha Murphy after a man was charged with her murder.
The 51-year-old was reportedly killed on February 4, the same day she disappeared after going for a morning jog through Woowookarung Regional Park.
Despite extensive searches in the bushland over the past five weeks, no trace of her has been found.
The 22-year-old son of an ex-AFL player – whose identity has been suppressed – was charged with murder on Thursday, although police say he has not revealed the whereabouts of the mother-of-three’s body.
Police are still searching for missing mother Samantha Murphy (pictured), who disappeared over a month ago after going for a run in Woowookarung Regional Park in eastern Ballarat
“In the interview with the suspect, he did not reveal the whereabouts of Samantha’s body,” Victoria Police Chief Shane Patton told reporters.
Mr Patton urged the public to come forward with “even the tiniest bit of information”.
“We’ve had tremendous help in making intelligence reports,” he said.
“But anyone who has any information, even the slightest bit of information that they don’t think is all that relevant, please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
“Any little clue could be crucial in helping us locate her body.”
Without commenting on the details of the current case, criminologist Xanthe Mallet said people who commit crimes of “this nature” typically commit them in areas where they feel comfortable.
“We call it a comfort zone and so the police will take all of that into account,” she told Today.
‘Somewhere they feel confident and comfortable committing a criminal offence.
‘Police have worked very hard to find Samantha’s remains, not only for the investigation, but of course for Samantha’s family as well.’
Criminologist Xanthe Mallet (pictured) said crimes such as Ms Murphy’s alleged murder are often committed by perpetrators in areas where they feel comfortable
Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton (pictured) has urged anyone with information about Ms Murphy’s disappearance to come forward as police step up the search for the missing woman.
Commissioner Patton said “meticulous detective work” over the past month led them to file the murder charges this week.
“He has been located through a series of investigative findings that have come together and as you know we have been pinging phones and following up on investigative reports from members of the public,” he said.
“We’ve done ground investigations, we’ve knocked on doors, so it’s a whole bunch of information that’s come together.
“It is the result of painstaking detective work with more help from the public.”
The Ballarat community will come together to honor Ms Murphy’s life at an evening vigil at Eureka Gardens on Friday evening.
The media will return to the Ballarat Magistrate’s Court on Friday morning to challenge the suppression order surrounding the identity of the 22-year-old man.