The shattered husband of missing jogger Samantha Murphy has expressed his deep sorrow for the family of Hannah McGuire.
Both women were allegedly murdered in the Ballarat area, with Ms Murphy, 51, going missing on her morning run on February 4 and Ms McGuire, 23, being found dead inside a burnt-out car on Friday.
There has been an outpouring of grief across the country with the tight-knit community in regional Victorian, west of Melbourne, struggling to come to terms with the twin tragedies.
Ms Murphy’s husband Mick Murray said in a statement to 9News: ‘It’s very sad. I feel for the family.’
He added that he would like to see tougher laws for those convicted of violence against woman.
‘More needs to be done in the country,’ he said. ‘Penalties need to be a lot harsher.’
Ms Murphy’s husband Mick Murray (pictured with daughter Jess) said in a statement, ‘It’s very sad. I feel for the family’ of Ms McGuire
Samantha Murphy, 51, was last seen leaving her home in East Ballarat for a run on the morning of February 4
Hannah McGuire was found dead in a burnt out car on Friday, southwest of Ballarat
The two men who are separately accused of murdering the mother-of-three and Ms McGuire, are understood to have been raised in supportive households.
Ms Murphy’s disappearance sparked a significant local effort to find her which continued up until the arrest of local man Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, on March 6.
He has been charged with her murder and remains behind bars in Melbourne until his next court appearance in August.
Stephenson is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.
He was also living locally in the area in Scotsburn, just 15 minutes away from East Ballarat.
Lachlan Young, 21, has been charged with the murder of Ms McGuire.
It is understood the pair had recently broken up after having lived together for the past year.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, has been charged with Ms Murphy’s alleged murder
Lachlan Young, 21, has meanwhile been charged with the alleged murder of Ms McGuire
Daily Mail Australia revealed on Monday that Ms McGuire had desperately attempted to obtain an intervention order against a man in the days before she was killed.
It is understood her death had initially been dismissed as a suicide before a coroner’s report indicated she had sustained deadly injuries before her supposed death inside a car.
The remains of that car had been found near State Forest Road, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria on Friday.
It can further be revealed Ms McGuire had been friends with Young’s sister Bek Young.
Images of Young obtained off social media indicate he enjoyed a good upbringing and remained close to his parents.
His parents’ family home is situated a stone’s throw from the Sebastopol home where detectives arrested him on Sunday.
Young faced the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he was told he would be kept behind bars until his next court date in September.
Outside court, Ms McGuire’s devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother, stood back in grief as Ballarat lawyer Brook Tamanika issued a statement on their behalf to the waiting media pack
Outside court, Ms McGuire’s devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother stood back as lawyer Brook Tamanika issued a statement on their behalf to the waiting media pack.
‘As you can imagine this is a very devastating time for the family, for Hannah’s loved ones and for our community as a whole,’ she said.
‘The family have been assisting the police however I cannot comment on the status of the matter.’
The charges laid against both Stephenson and McGuire saw them being held in custody for the first time each.
Both men are also understood to have been raised in supportive and loving families.
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.
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