Search for Samantha Murphy Intensifies in Mineshaft-Filled Enfield Park After Not-Guilty Plea

BALLARAT:  The search for the body of missing Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy remains the central focus of a major police operation, even as the man accused of her murder, Patrick Orren Stephenson, prepares to stand trial.

Stephenson, 23, was charged on March 7, 2024, with the murder of the 51-year-old mother-of-three, who vanished after leaving for a run on February 4. He has entered a not guilty plea to the charge.

The key to the investigation currently lies in the extensive bushland of Enfield State Park. Police teams have returned to this area multiple times, relying on intelligence to pinpoint where Murphy’s remains might be found.

The park presents unique challenges to search teams, as it is heavily \”littered with disused mineshafts\”, complicating ground searches and requiring specialist teams.

The significance of the park as a search area is heightened by its close proximity to another major piece of evidence: the dam where Murphy’s mobile phone was discovered in May, located approximately five kilometres from the park’s boundary. Police believe the alleged murder took place on the day she disappeared in the Mount Clear area, about 7km from her home.

The community, which rallied for weeks in widespread volunteer efforts, continues to await news regarding the location of Samantha Murphy, while the accused prepares for his trial in the Supreme Court.