Djab Wurrung woman and former Greens Senate candidate Sissy Austin was brutally attacked on 11 February 2023 while out trail running in Lal Lal– roughly 20 km away from where Murphy reportedly disappeared in Ballarat on 4 February 2024 while out for a regular run. 

Last year, Austin was allegedly attacked by a man with a homemade weapon (a rock tied to a stick) and knocked unconscious. Police at the time said they believed the attacker to be a Caucasian male wearing black jeans, a cap and no shoes or shirt.

Despite the brutal nature of the assault, her alleged attacker has yet to be found. Now, Austin says the police are revisiting her case with regards to Murphy’s disappearance but have failed to contact her regarding the investigation. 

In a scathing social media post on Wednesday, Austin laid bare the hypocrisy surrounding the police’s investigations into a missing white woman compared to her own case as a proud Aboriginal woman. 

“When a First Nations woman is attacked running, there’s little to no investigation. Then a year on a white woman goes missing running in the same town and now highly regarded detectives want to revisit my case, not because my life matters, but because the missing white woman’s does,” writes Austin.

“This is one of those clear examples where if police fail one of us, they fail all of us.”

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A post shared by Sissy Austin (@sissyxxaustin)

Police scaling back the ground search for Murphy

Murphy, 51, went missing over a week ago after leaving her Ballarat East home to go for one of her regular runs at around 7am. She was captured by her home’s security camera dressed in an exercise shirt and with her hair pulled back. 

The alarm was sounded after Murphy failed to attend a brunch she had planned later that day.

Emergency services and locals from the area launched a full-scale search of bushland, with no trace of her found. On Saturday, however, police announced they were scaling back the ground search. 

Retired homicide detective Charlie Bezzina told the ABC, that it’s likely the police have a specific line of inquiry to justify scaling back this land search. He believes investigators could be looking at the same suspects who attacked Austin last year. 

Having spent three-and-a-half decades investigating some of the nation’s worst crimes with Victoria police, Bezzina said that if he were on the case, he’d “be looking very closely about the whole investigation, did they have suspects, whether you need to go back and talk to her.”

“I’d be looking at the investigation file. Let’s start re-interviewing those suspects, let’s get them alibied.”

As community members join the search and social media groups post theories on Murphy’s disappearance, Victoria Police have discouraged people from speculating on the case while investigators continue to look for evidence. 

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The 51-year-old mother was last seen leaving her home at 7am on Sunday February 4 for her regular morning jog. 

Samantha Murphy’s husband, Mick Murphy, thanked the community for all the support, but called on anyone with a shred of information to contact police.

“People don’t just vanish into thin air,” Mick Murphy said to reporters on Thursday, outside the family home. 

“Someone’s got to know something.”

Their daughter, Jess, spoke through tears about her missing mother.

“Mum’s a really strong woman and she’s far too determined to give up this fight,” Jess said.

“I know she’s out there somewhere, so if you could please continue to search for her, to give us something to work with, we’d really appreciate it.

“Mum, we love you so much and we miss you.”

The family contacted police hours after Samantha Murphy was last seen when she failed to return home from her jog.

This week, police have conducted a widespread search for the 51-year-old in the Canadian Forest area, the Mount Helen area and to the East of Geelong Road.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ballarat police asked neighbours of the area to review any CCTV footage they may have, and called on people driving in the area between 7-11am on Sunday February 4 to review dashcam footage.

“Police and family have concerns for Samantha’s welfare due to the length of time she has been missing and her disappearance being out of character,” the statement said.

“Anyone who sights Samantha is urged to contact 000 immediately.”

On Thursday, Acting Inspector Lisa Macdougall from Ballarat police spoke to reporters saying police are “keeping an open mind and considering all possibilities”.

“We are being extremely thorough and methodical with that investigation,” she said.

“There are no suspicious circumstances that we’ve identified at this stage.

“We are hopeful and we are continuing to search, which is why we are out there utilising all of our resources to throw everything at the search.”

Catherine King MP, the Federal Member for Ballarat, thanked everyone in the community who has been involved in the search.

This has been a very distressing few days for so many in our community with the disappearance of Samantha Murphy.

Thank you to the many, many volunteers who have stepped up to help alongside @VictoriaPolice and @vicsesnews.

— Catherine King MP (@CatherineKingMP) February 7, 2024

On Wednesday, CCTV footage that was believed to have captured Samantha Murphy jogging was ruled out, as another woman in the area came forward and identified herself in the footage.

Several items have been located during the search for Murphy, but police have concluded they are not “related to her whereabouts” at this time.

The community has rallied behind the Murphy family to help find Samantha. Mick Murphy thanked everyone for the support they have shown, including sending food for the family throughout the week.

A Facebook page called Find Samantha Murphy, created by Cindy Hobbs, has nearly 13,000 members, who are sharing tips that may be relevant to Murphy’s disappearance.

“This is a public group for locals to share search efforts, and discuss topics to help find Sam,” the page’s description reads.

“Please stick to facts about the case but feel free to ask questions.

“THANK YOU for being here, even if you are unable to search, just your presence in this group helps spread awareness.”

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