Search for missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy scaled back six days after she left home to run in nearby Canadian forest

Concerned residents hoping to join rescue efforts to find missing mother Samantha Murphy have been shocked after learning the search had all but ceased six days after her disappearance.

Samantha Murphy, 51, disappeared on Sunday, February 4, after leaving her home on Eureka Street, East Ballarat, at 7.16am to go for a run in the nearby Canadian Forest.

On Saturday, local residents who showed up waiting to help rescue crews hunt for Ms Murphy were told there would be no coordinated effort and that they could conduct their own searches on their own.

One resident told Daily Mail Australia he had hoped to participate after a full week of work.

“It’s the first opportunity I’ve had and I just wanted to help,” he said.

Police advise locals not to enter the bush alone and to explore the rugged terrain with a friend.

“It’s a bit disappointing that it’s already being phased out,” one man said. “I mean, she could still be alive out there. It wasn’t that long ago.’

Mrs Murphy’s husband was also seen returning to the police station on Saturday morning, where he spent about half an hour inside before leaving.

He declined to comment on leaving the building.

The search, which involved volunteers from the State Emergency Services, the Country Fire Authority and Victoria Police, has been ‘scaled back’ but not stopped completely.

“The current phase of the active search for missing woman Samantha Murphy was scaled back this weekend,” a spokesperson said.

‘An extensive six-day search was carried out involving local police, together with personnel from the Search and Rescue Squad, Mounted Branch and Dog Squad, plus significant assistance from members of the SES and CFA.

‘Police continue to be in regular contact with Samantha’s family regarding developments in the search and the status of the investigation.

‘The investigative phase of the study continues and as new information becomes available identifying areas of interest, the search will be scaled up.’

SES volunteers search for clues near Buninyong as part of a massive search for missing Ballarat East woman Samantha Murphy – the search has now been significantly scaled back

The measure comes just a day after the Missing Persons Unit took charge of the investigation.

On Friday, Detective Acting Chief Inspector Mark Hatt told reporters that detectives would now investigate Ms Murphy’s movements and interactions with others in the days before she disappeared.

‘Absolutely, that will be a big part of our investigation. “We are digging into the background, investigating Samantha’s movements in the days leading up to her disappearance as well as the people who knew her,” he said.

Part of the investigation – now called Operation Primus – will see detectives scour Ms Murphy’s computers and devices in the hope of finding clues.

Chief Inspector Hatt said police were still working to establish who may have been in the area where Ms Murphy’s phone lost communication with mobile phone masts.

Her cell phone had pinged in the nearby suburb of Buninyong before dark.

Chief Inspector Hatt said detectives are still working with phone companies to obtain data that could be vital in shedding some light on the investigation.

‘We cannot share any information about this at this stage. “We are still working with our telecommunications engineers to determine phone movements and who was in the area at the time,” he said.

Chief Inspector Mark Hatt (pictured) said police were still working to establish who may have been in the area where Ms Murphy’s phone lost communication with mobile phone masts.

Victoria Police had said on Friday that the “current phase of the active search” for Ms Murphy would be scaled back this weekend.

Specialist teams will continue the search even if volunteers are reduced this weekend.

After an extensive search of the area yielded no clues, detectives from the missing persons team were put in charge of the investigation on Friday.

“While no sinister factors have been identified in her disappearance at this time, there are significant concerns as it has now been six days and she has not been seen or there are any signs of her current whereabouts,” police said in a statement.