Police say they no longer believe CCTV shows missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy after another person came forward to identify themselves in the video.
The 51-year-old was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest about 7am on Sunday.
Footage police released yesterday of someone running, which was believed to be the mother's last known sighting.
But police have this afternoon announced a local has come forward to identify themselves as the blurry figure in the footage.
"The footage will no longer be relevant to the search for Samantha," a police spokesperson said.
"However, we continue to urge any members of the community with CCTV or dashcam footage from Sunday 4 February between 7am and 11am to view that footage and notify Crime Stoppers of anything they believe maybe relevant."
It comes after Samantha's daughter made a heartbreaking plea for her mother to return home as search efforts entered the fifth day.
Speaking to media through tears this afternoon, Murphy's eldest daughter Jess said she "knew her mother was out there".
"Mum's a really strong woman and she's far too determined to give up this fight," Jess said.
"I know she's out there somewhere.
"Mummy, we love you so much and we miss you and we need you at home with us.
"Please come home soon."
Murphy's husband Michael joined his daughter in appealing for public information, thanking the community for its help in the search.
He urged anyone with information to contact police.
"People just don't vanish into thin air, someone's got to know something," he 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."
Police yesterday declared a crime scene and evacuated part of a walking trail after a number of mystery items were discovered in the scrub during their search, later deemed to be inconsequential.
Addressing media today, Acting Inspector Lisa McDougall said while police didn't have any evidence to indicate foul play was involved, they were keeping "an open mind".
"There are no suspicious circumstances that we've identified at this stage," McDougall said.
"We're keeping an open mind and we're hopeful.
"We throwing resources at it in the hope we find Samantha and get answers for her family, who are obviously concerned."
The case has sparked intrigue into the mysterious circumstances of Murphy's disappearance and the lack of answers so far.
Asked whether it was safe for women to be running alone in the area, McDougall said it was up to people to make their own safety judgements.
"I'm not going to tell people what they can and can't do," she said.
"At the moment there are no suspicious circumstances that have been identified, and it's up to people to assess their own safety."
Police have expanded the search to the nearby Mount Helen area, east of Geelong Road in the hope of finding any clues linked to Murphy's disappearance.
They also released CCTV footage captured of Murphy during her run, which was captured about 7.16am on Eureka Street on the day she went missing.
The vision shows Murphy running north past a neighbour's home near the intersection of Warrenheip Road toward Yankee Flat Road.
They are urging locals to access dashcam and any CCTV footage they might have to help police in the investigation.
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2024-02-08 07:00:00Z
CBMimgFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvdmljdG9yaWEtbmV3cy1kYXVnaHRlci1vZi1taXNzaW5nLXZpY3Rvcmlhbi13b21hbi1wbGVhcy1mb3ItaGVyLW1vdGhlci10by1jb21lLWhvbWUvNzUyM2RiYmItMjkwZS00NjUzLWFiNDItMzgwMTBlOThkYWFk0gEA
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