A man has been charged with murdering a missing Australian woman whose case has gripped national attention for a month.
Samantha Murphy was last seen leaving her home in East Ballarat, Victoria, for a morning run on 4 February.
It led to a massive search operation, but authorities have found no trace of the 51-year-old mother of three. A 22-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday at his house in Ballarat, about 115km (70 miles) northwest of Melbourne. He is yet to enter plea.
“Our thoughts today are with Samantha's family and friends,” Detective Acting Supt Mark Hatt from Victoria Police said in a statement on Thursday.
He said her body was yet to be found.
On the day of her disappearance, Ms Murphy was seen on security cameras in her driveway wearing a maroon running shirt and black leggings. After she failed to return that afternoon, authorities began scouring nearby areas and examining thousands of hours of CCTV footage.
She was known to run in local bush areas called Canadian Forest and Mount Clear, which have been the focus of searches by hundreds of volunteers.
Ms Murphy's phone, Apple watch and headphones – which she was carrying at the time – have still not been located. Police thanked the local community for the “commitment and dedication” to the case and said that Thursday's charges were a “testament” to their efforts.
“I know that Samantha's disappearance has had a profound impact on the Ballarat community and I want to thank all of those people who have assisted police in many different ways over the past month,” Det Acting Supt Hatt said.
In the weeks following her disappearance, Ms Murphy's family described her as a strong woman who would be determined to return home.
“Mum we love you so much and we miss you. We need you at home with us. Please come home soon,” her daughter Jess Murphy said.
Police have previously told the public they believe “another party” or “a number of people” may have been involved in the disappearance. They also ruled out a medical incident, and warned of the unlikelihood of Ms Murphy still being alive.
— CutC by bbc.com
