Police have released CCTV vision of the last known sighting of missing Victorian mother Samantha Murphy as the search enters its fourth day.
Police earlier declared a crime scene and evacuated part of a walking trail after a number of mystery items were discovered in shrub during their search, later deemed to be inconsequential.
Police have expanded the search to the nearby Mount Helen area, east of Geelong Road in the hope of finding any clues linked to Murphy’s disappearance.
They also released CCTV footage captured of Murphy during her run, which was captured about 7.16am on Eureka Street on the day she went missing.
The vision shows Murphy running north past a neighbour’s home near the intersection of Warrenheip Road toward Yankee Flat Road.
In a statement, a Victoria Police spokesperson urged any neighbours to hand over CCTV vision to police.
“Investigators would like residents in the above areas to review their CCTV footage between 7am and 11am in the event Samantha is captured,” the spokesperson said.
Police previously told media they did not suspect anything suspicious had happened.
The search for the missing mother is in its fourth day, with volunteers, community members and emergency services desperately joining efforts to find Murphy.
The mystery items located today during the search for Murphy were assessed and police do not believe they are related to the search.
Earlier, a search zone had bbeen set up around near the Buninyong Golf Club, close to where Murphy’s phone was last pinged.
Murphy’s husband told 9News yesterday that he was staying at home during the search to try and keep his mind busy while he waited for an update.
Together with her husband, the couple own a car panel shop in town together.
Murphy is described as Caucasian, about 173cm tall with a slim build and shoulder-length blonde hair.
She was last seen wearing black leggings and a maroon/brown-coloured singlet.
Anyone who sees Murphy is urged to contact Ballarat East police station on (03) 5336 6000.
