A former homicide detective believes that missing mum Samantha Murphy might still be alive – and there’s a chance they might find her.
Ms Murphy, 51, disappeared 10 days ago while on a 7am run on Sunday in the Woowookarung Regional Park beauty spot near Ballarat, Victoria.
Former Victoria Police detective Charlie Bezzina says cops could be investigating the same suspects who attacked Sissy Austin, who was battered unconscious by an unknown man a year ago as she jogged through the nearby Lal Lal State Forest on February 11 last year.
Ms Austin was running along the motorbike track through woodland, just 20km from where Ms Murphy was jogging, when she was suddenly confronted by the stranger.
A former homicide detective believes that missing mum Samantha Murphy might still be alive – and there’s a chance they might find her.
Ms Austin posted photos of herself before and after the attack at the hands of a man with a rock tied to a stick almost a year before Samantha Murphy vanished nearby on Sunday
She just caught a glimpse of him before he lashed out and struck her on the head with a rock tied to the end of a stick.
The blow knocked her out cold and left her face bruised and bloodied, before she woke up minutes later, dazed but alone.
Ms Austin, who stood for election to the Senate for the Greens, then ran 4km to raise the alarm and called for help from the emergency services.
‘That would be one avenue of inquiry,’ Mr Bezzina told the ABC’s 7:30.
‘I’d be looking very closely about the whole investigation, did they have suspects, whether you need to go back and talk to her.
‘I’d be looking at the investigation file. Let’s start re-interviewing those suspects, let’s get them alibied.’
‘Until such time as you actually physically see her either alive or dead … you work with the hope that she is alive somewhere and then you continue on the investigation full steam ahead.’
Writing on social media on Tuesday, Ms Austin said: ‘Just heard detectives on the morning news saying they’re revisiting my case with regards to missing person Samantha Murphy, yet I haven’t heard a single word from detectives or police in 12 months.
‘And do you know what makes me furious is one of the last things the cops said to me after my attack was?
‘The only way we will find the person that attacked you is if they hand themselves in or if they attack again.’
‘And here we are…’
Dozens of volunteers continue looking for Ms Murphy despite police suspending their foot search.
The Lal Lal state forest is just 20km from where missing mum Samantha Murphy went for a run on Sunday in nearby Woowookarung Regional Park
Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson said it had been heartwarming to learn that people had made the trip from Melbourne, but also concerning because newcomers did not know the area.
‘What we don’t want, and what emergency services don’t want, is to then need to mount another search for other people,’ Cr Hudson told Sky News.
He said police had an information board at the local police station that newcomers could get some safety tips before starting their own search.
‘Ideally people would be (travelling) in twos at least so they can work as a team, but people do need to be careful,’ he said.
‘Ballarat is a town that was built on gold, lots of gold mines are out there – and people have to be mindful of that when they are searching.’
Police have turned to CCTV footage to try and piece together Ms Murphy’s final documented movements, saying a full scale search will only resume if fresh information emerges.
Investigators are keen to review footage from the three suburbs even if it does not show Ms Murphy.
Police on Saturday said there were no sinister factors about Ms Murphy’s disappearance, but there were significant concerns for her wellbeing.
Police said they remain in regular contact with the Murphy family about the investigation.
Dozens of volunteers continue looking for Ms Murphy despite police suspending their foot search
Ms Murphy regularly jogged between 15km through nearby remote areas.
She left her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East at 7am the day she disappeared.
CCTV footage from the family home shows her about to depart.
Police have been working with telecommunications experts to try to identify her route, given she carried a smart watch and phone.
Ms Murphy has been described as physically and mentally strong.
She and her husband Michael run a car repair business called Inland Motor Body Works at Delacombe, a few suburbs from their home.
Anyone with information about Ms Murphy’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.