Police search for missing Ballarat woman enters fifth day

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Police in Victoria are keeping an open mind in the search for Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy who has been missing since leaving for her regular morning run on Sunday. Her husband and daughter have spoken out as the search for the 51-year-old mother-of-three widens. At the same news conference, the police would not be drawn on whether or not they believe Ms Murphy is still alive.

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00:00 There have been incredibly emotional scenes here at a Ballarat West police station as

00:06 the eldest daughter and husband of Ms. Samantha Murphy spoke during a police press conference.

00:12 On what is the fifth day of the extensive search for Ms. Murphy, her daughter Jess Murphy

00:16 pleaded with the public to contact police with any information they may have about her

00:20 missing mother.

00:21 The 51-year-old was last seen leaving her Ballarat East home for a run in a nearby state

00:26 forest on Sunday morning.

00:28 This afternoon Jess reiterated just how out of character the disappearance is.

00:32 "Mum's a really strong woman and she's far too determined to give up this fight.

00:38 I know she's out there somewhere, so if you could please continue to search for her, to

00:45 give us something to work with, we'd really appreciate it.

00:48 Mum, we love you so much and we miss you and we need you at home with us.

00:56 Please come home soon, I can't wait to see you, to give you the biggest hug when I do

01:02 and to tell you off for giving us so much stress.

01:05 I love you."

01:07 Police say at this stage they have not identified any suspicious circumstances in their search

01:11 for Samantha, which has involved CFA, SES and dozens of community members.

01:16 Yesterday they released some CCTV footage of what is believed to be Ms. Murphy going

01:21 on her run on Sunday and have once again urged locals in Ballarat East, Canadian and Mount

01:26 Helen to check their home cameras.

01:28 Acting Inspector Lisa McDougall says investigators are keeping an open mind.

01:33 "So that search is ongoing and we're throwing all those resources at it in the hope that

01:38 we find Samantha and get some answers for her family who are obviously concerned.

01:46 Hence the reason I'm here, asking for the community's assistance so that they can provide

01:51 that information to us that might be crucial to that investigation."

01:54 The search for Samantha Murphy will continue and anyone with any information is urged to

01:59 contact Crimestoppers.

02:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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