New development in search for Samantha Murphy
Police have called in more than a dozen detectives from specialist units to assist the investigation into the disappearance of Samantha Murphy 18 days after she went missing.
The mother-of-three was last seen leaving her Ballarat East home to go on her usual morning run in nearby bushland at around 7am on February 4.
Now, The Missing Persons Squad, who is leading the investigation has been expanded to include detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command and Crime Command units.
The detectives from these specialist units are “highly skilled” selected for their “experience in complex and protracted investigations”.
Police have also clarified that the extra detectives have travelled to Ballarat because of their skills and experience rather than a terror or sex crime link.
“We have not taken counter terrorism detectives because we think her disappearance is terrorism related,” police told the Herald Sun.
Local community members are also doing whatever they can to help, and are conducting their own searches.
The group of volunteers are all working together to find "any answers, any solution, any hints, any evidence that might be able to contribute towards bringing Sam home," local Cristie-Lea King told A Current Affair on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday, community-members also banded together to fly in an experienced bush tracker to help them and share his expertise ahead of the community-led search on Saturday.
“I’m hoping to get a lot done while I’m here,” he told 7News at the time.
“I plan on training up some locals in the fundamentals of tracking, so when I leave I can continue to liaise with those on the ground."
“People are entitled to their opinions as to whether or not Samantha is out in the bush.
“On the chance that she is, I want to ensure that absolutely everything is done to find her.”
Images: Victoria Police