A ‘dark cloud’ is hanging over the community of a regional Victorian town following the deaths of two women in the space of two months, a criminal psychologist has said.
The locals of Ballarat, northwest of Melbourne, had already been struggling to come to terms with the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy, 51, and have now been dealt another blow following the discovery of a 23-year-old woman’s body.
The remains of the young woman from Clunes was discovered in a burnt out car near State Forests Road in Scarsdale, south of Ballarat, on Friday.
The identity of the person who discovered her body and the exact timing of the discovery remains unknown while two men, aged 21 and 22, have been arrested.
Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro said the Murphy case and discovery of the 23-year-old’s remains would have a ‘profound effect’ on the community.
‘I’d imagine they’re reeling,’ he told Daily Mail .
‘The discovery of the dead woman would be very triggering for them. On a more generic level, people are probably wondering how safe it is in that part of the world.’
Ms Murphy was last seen going for a run in Ballarat East on February 4.
Her remains have not been found and on March 7, Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with Ms Murphy’s alleged murder.
In a grim update, a Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail on Monday there are no updates in the search for her remains.
The population of Ballarat is about 100,000, compared to Melbourne which has about 5 million residents.
‘Two women that have been presumed dead in roughly the space of two months, I think these sorts of (alleged) crimes have a profound impact on small communities,’ Mr Watson-Munro said.
‘It’s a bit of a dark cloud over them.’
The locals of Ballarat, northwest of Melbourne , had already been struggling to come to terms with the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy, 51
The body of a 23-year-old woman has been found near a bushland track in south Ballarat, leading to the arrests of two men
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with Ms Murphy’s alleged murder
A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail on Monday there are no updates in the search for Samantha Murphy’s remains
The expert said while the news of the 23-year-old’s death would likely trigger some ‘negative emotions’ for Ballarat locals, it is hoped it may also motivate people to think back to Ms Murphy’s disappearance and potentially recall any important information they could pass onto police.
A renewed search for Ms Murphy was launched by police around the Buninyong Bushland Reserve at the end of last month but called off after just six hours.
It comes after Ms Murphy’s heartbroken husband Michael said he still held hope her body would be found.
The mother-of-three would have turned 52 on Easter Saturday, a milestone her family had to mark without her.
‘It was the first birthday without Sam … That’s a hard thing but we’ve gotta face reality and realise she’s just not coming back,’ Mr Murphy told the Herald Sun.
He still searches for his wife’s body every day, while he and his family wait in hope for any new developments from the police.
Mr Murphy said he misses his wife all the time, but he tries to hold his spirits up, saying: ‘I need to be strong myself and look after everyone around me.’
Michael Murphy (pictured) still has faith that the body of his beloved wife Samantha will be found, as the heartbroken family passed a major milestone last weekend
Ms Murphy was last seen on CCTV on the driveway of her Ballarat East home as she left for a run in the Woowookarung Regional Park two months ago.
When she didn’t get back at her expected time and the family were unable to contact her, they called the police.
An extensive search followed, with professionals and volunteers combing over a large area of bushland.
But they were unable to find her and the only major breakthrough was the arrest of Stephenson on March 6.
A distraught Mr Murphy has been unable to return to work since his wife went missing.
But he said he can still laugh and smile sometimes, despite the unending trauma he and his family have been going through since Ms Murphy disappeared.
A local group, the Ground Crew, is also still searching for her, keeping in touch with the police and SES, and being careful not to disturb any potential evidence they may find.