A “dark cloud” hangs over the community of a regional Victoria town after the deaths of two women in the space of two months, a criminal psychologist has said.
Residents of Ballarat, northwest of Melbourne, were already struggling to come to terms with the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy, 51, and have just suffered another blow after the body of a 23-year-old woman was discovered.
The remains of the young Clunes woman were discovered in a burnt-out car near State Forests Road in Scarsdale, south of Ballarat, on Friday.
The identity of the person who discovered her body and the exact time of discovery remain unknown while two men, aged 21 and 22, have been arrested.
Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro said the Murphy case and the discovery of the 23-year-old’s remains would have a “profound effect” on the community.
“I imagine they are in shock,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
“The discovery of the dead woman would be very heartbreaking for them. On a more general level, people are probably wondering how safe it is in this part of the world.
Ms Murphy was last seen running in Ballarat East on February 4.
Her remains were not found and on March 7, Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with the alleged murder of Ms Murphy.
A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Monday there were no updates in the search for her remains.
Ballarat’s population is around 100,000, compared to Melbourne’s population of around 5 million.
“Two women presumed dead in the space of about two months, I think these kinds of (alleged) crimes have a profound impact on small communities,” Mr Watson-Munro said.
“It’s a bit of a dark cloud hanging over them.”
Residents of Ballarat, northwest of Melbourne, were already struggling to come to terms with the alleged murder of 51-year-old Samantha Murphy.
The body of a 23-year-old woman was found near a bush track in Ballarat’s south, leading to the arrest of two men.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, has been charged with the alleged murder of Ms Murphy
A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Monday there were no updates regarding the search for Samantha Murphy’s remains.
The expert said while news of the 23-year-old’s death would likely trigger “negative emotions” among Ballarat residents, it was hoped it could also motivate people to think again about Ms Murphy’s disappearance and potentially remember any important information they might convey. on the police.
A renewed search for Ms Murphy was launched by police around the Buninyong Bushland Reserve late last month, but was called off after just six hours.
It comes after Ms Murphy’s heartbroken husband Michael said he still hoped her body would be found.
The mother of three would have turned 52 on Easter Saturday, a milestone her family had to reach without her.
“It was the first anniversary without Sam… It’s a difficult thing but we have to face reality and realize she’s just not coming back,” Mr Murphy told the Herald Sun.
He continues every day to search for his wife’s body, while he and his family wait in hopes of further developments from the police.
Mr Murphy said he misses his wife all the time, but he tries to keep his spirits up, saying: “I have to be strong myself and take care of everyone around me.”
Michael Murphy (pictured) remains confident the body of his beloved wife Samantha will be found, as the heartbroken family reached a milestone last weekend.
Ms Murphy was last seen on CCTV in the driveway of her Ballarat East home as she went for a run in Woowookarung Regional Park two months ago.
When she didn’t return at the expected time and the family couldn’t contact her, they called the police.
An extensive search followed, with professionals and volunteers combing a large area of bushland.
But they failed to find her and the only major breakthrough was Stephenson’s arrest on March 6.
Distraught, Mr. Murphy has been unable to return to work since his wife’s disappearance.
But he said he could still laugh and smile sometimes, despite the endless trauma he and his family have experienced since Ms Murphy’s disappearance.
A local group, the Ground Crew, are also still searching for her, staying in touch with the police and the SES, and taking care not to disturb any potential evidence they might find.
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