The disappearance of 51-year-old Samantha Murphy, who went missing while on a run near Ballarat earlier this month, has prompted a flurry of speculation and conspiracy theories online, with psychics and amateur detectives adding unfounded claims to the investigation.
Police have urged the public to refrain from speculating, but social media platforms have been awash with theories based on limited clues, including a CCTV image of Murphy leaving home and a mobile phone ping 11km south of Ballarat. Items found near her home were quickly ruled irrelevant, and a jogger initially thought to be Murphy later came forward.
A Facebook group set up to coordinate searches amassed about 20,000 members before it was closed on Monday. The administrator, Cin Hobbs, had appealed for no more psychic medium posts as the group became rife with unfounded claims. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton also called on the public not to speculate, while the local police were overwhelmed with phone calls.
Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson described the speculation as “not helpful,” urging people to leave the investigation to professionals. Some residents have raised unrelated incidents, such as an assault on a former Greens candidate last year, but police have not linked these to Murphy’s disappearance.
The missing persons squad has taken over the investigation, which is not being treated as suspicious. Murphy was last seen at 7am on 4 February, wearing a purple running singlet and black leggings, after telling friends she planned a 14km run through Woowookarung Regional Park.
