An ex-inmate has spoken out about what jail could be like for the man accused of killing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy.
Police arrested Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, on Wednesday in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Clear – about 5km from Ms Murphy’s Ballarat East home in Victoria.
Stephenson, who has no connection to the Murphy family, was charged with murdering the mother-of-three on Thursday afternoon.
The arrest and murder charge marked the first significant breakthrough in what became Victoria’s highest priority police inquiry since the 51-year-old vanished without a trace after leaving her home for a run in nearby Woowookrung Regional Park at about 7am on February 4.
On Friday, he was taken from Ballarat to a prison in Melbourne.
Reformed bank robber Russell Manser, who served 23 years behind bars in prisons across the country, said Stephenson is likely to be housed in a ‘protective unit’ that would safeguard him from the anger of other inmates.
‘He’ll be a protected species,’ Manser said.
‘He will be out of sight and out of range for anyone to bash him or do anything bad to him.
Mum-of-three Samantha Murphy (pictured) vanished without a trace on February 4 at about 7am after leaving her Ballarat east home for a run in nearby Woowookrung Regional Park
Police arrested and charged 22-year-old Patrick Orren Stephenson (pictured) with the murder of Ms Murphy
Reformed bank robber Russell Manser (pictured) has revealed how he will be treated in prison
Manser’s comments come after Stephenson was arrested in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Clear – about 5km from Ms Murphy’s home.
He is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.
He appeared in court in a bright orange hi-viz worker’s jacket on Thursday to face charges of murdering Ms Murphy on February 4 – the day she disappeared.
It’s understood Stephenson has repeatedly refused to co-operate with police and has given no indication as to where Ms Murphy’s remains could be, the Sunday Herald Sun reports.
Stephenson (pictured centre, with his father Orren and mother Whitney) is the son of former AFL footballer Orren Stephenson and was also a renowned local football player
Her family remain desperate for closure with her husband, Mick Murphy, on Friday pleading for Stephenson to co-operate with police.
‘We are hoping he has a bit of a change of heart and that he will co-operate. That will help bring her home,’ he said.
‘We’d just like some more answers now.’
Victoria Police’s Chief Commissioner Shane Patton on Thursday confirmed Stephenson had not disclosed the location of Ms Murphy’s body.
It is unclear what specific evidence led police to Stephenson’s arrest.
However, it’s understood a large part of Victoria Police’s investigation was CCTV footage from around East Ballarat.
Officers recently obtained videos from a light industrial and residential area, with homes and businesses in Elsworth, Joseph and Butt streets confirming police requested their security footage.
Elsworth St leads to bushland managed by Parks Victoria.
It is not known if any of the footage obtained shows Ms Murphy or any vehicles of interest.
Officers have also searched the area, which includes car detailing, roller-door and gymnasium businesses.
However, Commissioner Patton revealed police would not continue planned searches over the weekend unless the location of Ms Murphy’s remains were uncovered by other means
Dedicated volunteers have scoured Ballarat bushland for five weeks but have found no trace of the missing mother.
