How the investigation into Samantha Murphy's disappearance unfolded

Police have charged a 22-year-old man with one count of murder over the disappearance of missing Victorian mother Samantha Murphy.

Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad have been investigating since the mother-of-three failed to return from an early morning run in the regional city of Ballarat.

While much of the timeline remains unclear, this is what police say they know about the alleged murder.

Sunday, February 4

Murphy leaves her Eureka Street home in Ballarat East about 7am to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest.

The 51-year-old is captured on CCTV wearing black leggings and a maroon/brown-coloured singlet - she also has her phone and smart watch with her.

She fails to return home, where she is expected to attend a brunch.

Emergency services and community volunteers begin to search in nearby Woowookarung Regional Park, or Canadian Forest.

Samantha Murphy was last seen going for a run on February 4.

Monday, February 5

Police launch an investigation. Detectives tell the media they don't suspect anything suspicious has happened.

They reveal her phone last pinged near the Buningyong Golf Club, about 11 kilometres south of her home.

Thursday, February 8

Family members make an emotional plea for the public's help to find the mother of three.

"People just don't vanish into thin air, someone's got to know something," Murphy's husband Michael said.

"Whether it be any little thing that you might think is relevant, just call the police.

"It'll give us a bit of peace of mind if we get some hope."

Friday, February 9

Missing persons detectives take over the investigation, as additional resources are deployed into the region.

Detectives begin speaking with telecommunications technicians but do not give any more information.

Saturday, February 10

Just a day later, the search is officially scaled back.

Wednesday, February 14

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton declares the disappearance is being treated as "suspicious" but says no evidence of foul play has emerged.

Police follow up hundreds of pieces of information and conduct targeted searches of the area.

Friday, February 23

Police reveal more than one person may be involved in the disappearance.

Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt tells media the possibility Murphy was still alive was slim.

"Unfortunately, given the time and the fact we've found no trace of her, we have severe concerns, and we are very doubtful she is still alive," he said.

Investigators review about 12,000 hours of CCTV footage and follow up more than 500 separate pieces of information.

Wednesday, March 6

A 22-year-old man is arrested at a home in Ballarat about 6am.

He is taken into custody, where he is questioned.

Thursday, March 7

Police inform the public of the man's arrest.

The 22-year-old is charged with one count of murder and fronts court. However, his identity is suppressed.

The magistrate tells the court the accused is entitled to a "fair trial", and noted the case had high media and community interest.

Murphy's husband tells media he felt "relief" after hearing a man had been charged.

Police are yet to recover Murphy's body and the investigation remains ongoing.

Friday, March 8

The son of a former AFL player is identified as the man charged with murder.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, faces Ballarat Magistrates Court, where an interim suppression order that prevented the publication of his name, address, and date of birth is lifted.

Wednesday, March 20

A widespread police search for the Ballarat mother's body is sparked after detectives receive new intelligence.

Police spend eight hours scouring thick bushland in Buninyong, about 11km from Ballarat.

However, the search was soon called off after police failed to locate any sign of the body.

Police are expected to continue searching in the coming weeks.

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