In a dramatic turn, police have returned to the rugged bushland of Enfield State Park, refusing to abandon the relentless hunt for missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy, who vanished without a trace in February 2024.
Authorities now warn the operation may stretch beyond Thursday, signalling fresh momentum â and potentially new intelligence â behind the latest surge in activity.
Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill confirmed on Wednesday that specialist teams are once again scouring the 4,400-hectare forest, a vast landscape known for its dense terrain and dangerous mine shafts.
âClosure is required for the family, for the loved ones,â he said, revealing the emotional weight driving the renewed operation.
Samantha, 51 when she disappeared, was last seen leaving her Ballarat home for a routine Sunday morning run on February 4, 2024. Despite countless community efforts and extensive police searches, her body has never been found.
The latest sweep of Enfield State Park â located around 30km south of Ballarat â marks yet another chapter in a mystery that has gripped Victoria for nearly two years. Police have asked the public not to join the search, stressing operational sensitivity.
Meanwhile, Patrick Orren Stephenson, the Ballarat man accused of her murder, has pleaded not guilty and is set to face the Supreme Court on April 8, 2026. The trial in Ballarat is expected to run for six weeks.
As investigators move deeper through the thick bushland, one question remains:
Will this be the search that finally brings answers â and closure â to Samanthaâs family?
