Police have admitted that CCTV from the morning Samantha Murphy vanished doesn’t show the missing mum, after a runner came forward to reveal they are the person seen in the footage.
Ms Murphy, 51, vanished on Sunday after leaving her home on Eureka Street, East Ballarat, in Melbourne’s north-west to go for a run at 7.16am.
Victoria Police released CCTV footage on Wednesday which showed a person leaving a property before heading in a north-easterly direction toward Yankee Flat Road near the intersection of Warrenheip Road.
The person was understood to have been Ms Murphy heading out for a run 20km run through the Canadian State forest.
Police confirmed on Thursday that a member of the public has come forward to identify themselves as the person who was seen in the CCTV footage.
Police have admitted that CCTV from the morning Samantha Murphy vanished (pictured) doesn’t show the missing mum, after a runner came forward to reveal they are the person seen in the footage.
‘In relation to the most recent CCTV footage which was released yesterday, a member of the community has come forward and identified themselves as the person depicted running,’ a spokesperson for Victoria Police said in a statement.
‘For that reason, the footage will no longer be relevant to the search for Samantha’.
This is the second time in 24 hours police have to declare evidence irrelevant.
Police found items ‘items’ in bushland on Wednesday – only to later decide they weren’t Ms Murphy’s.
Now in its fifth day, the large scale search is expected to be wound down at nightfall tonight and resume on Friday morning.
The shock twist come after Ms Murphy’s husband Mick and daughter Jessica launched a public appeal for information on Thursday.
Jessica fought back tears while addressing the media, pleading for help from the public to help find her mum.
‘Mum we love you so much and we miss you and we need you at home with us, please come home soon, I can’t wait to see you.’ Jess said.
‘Mum’s a really strong woman, and she’s far too determined to give up this fight.’

Ms Murphy’s daughter Jessica (pictured) ought back tears while addressing the media, pleading for help from the public to help find her mum

Ms Murphy (pictured), 51, vanished on Sunday after leaving her home on Eureka Street, East Ballarat, in Melbourne ‘s north west to go for a run at 7.16am.
Earlier on Wednesday, Daily Mail Australia witnessed Ms Murphy’s husband Michael speaking to police at the crime scene.
He visited the bush area at Woowookarung Regional Park at about 1.45pm and spoke briefly to Victoria Police officers through a car window.
Mr Murphy, a panel beater, appeared visibly stunned and was turned away.
It is not suggested Mr Murphy played any role in Ms Murphy’s disappearance, only that he came to see what authorities had found.
Police said the items found in bushland were not related to her whereabouts.
Police, SES and volunteers appeared to leave no stone unturned in the search on Wednesday morning.
Volunteers were seen looking under bushes and inspecting scrubland directly outside the Murphy home.
On Tuesday, Acting Inspector Lisa MacDougall said her mobile phone had pinged in Buninyong but that ‘inquiries are ongoing as to whether [the phone] is still on’.
‘Obviously, phones can run out of battery, but that forms part of the investigation,’ she told reporters on Monday.
Ms Murphy was known to be fit and run almost daily in the state forest.

Mr Murphy (pictured, appeared visibly stunned and was turned away by police officers after he visited the bush area at Woowookarung Regional Park on Wednesday afternoon

Emergency crews including SES volunteers (pictured) were seen scouring surrounding areas as the desperate search for Ms Murphy continues
Ms Murphy was wearing what appears to be an Apple Watch when she went disappeared.
Th small clue has sparked hope the device might help detectives locate her.
Ms Murphy is described as Caucasian, about 173cm tall, with a slim build and shoulder-length blonde hair.
Anyone who sees her has been urged to contact police immediately.
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