Samantha Murphy has been remembered at a touching vigil in Ballarat on Friday evening where hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to the mother-of-three.
The community came together at Eureka Memorial Stockade Park in the Victorian city at 7pm for the public vigil, not far from where the 51-year-old was last seen alive.
Photographs of Ms Murphy were placed on a small table next to small bunches of flowers with a book for people to sign and share their messages of condolences.
Later in the evening as the sun set over the park, the crowd raised their mobile phones with flashlights - while others held up candles - in a moving tribute to honour the Ballarat mother.
Others brought bunches of flowers to the park, which is the same place where volunteers recently launched a major ground search for any signs of Ms Murphy in bushland around Ballarat.
Ms Murphy left her Eureka Street home in Ballarat East about 7am on Sunday, February 4, to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest.
On Thursday, 22-year-old Scotsburn man Patrick Stephenson was charged with one count of murder. Ms Murphy's body has not yet been found.
The 'Ground Crew Samantha Murphy' Facebook page - which has been dedicated to the search for Ms Murphy - announced details of the vigil in a post on Friday.
"We are deeply saddened to confirm that an individual has been charged with the murder of Samantha Murphy," the Facebook post said.
"This development marks a tragic turn in the search for Samantha, and our thoughts are with her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.
"The support and solidarity shown by our community throughout this ordeal have been remarkable.
"We are grateful for the tireless efforts of law enforcement and all those involved in the search for Samantha.
"A vigil is being held tonight Friday 8th of March at Eureka Memorial Stockade Park at 7pm."
Stephenson's identity was made public on Friday, after a court-imposed suppression order was lifted a day after he first appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates' Court.
He is the son of former AFL Richmond and Geelong AFL player, Orren Stephenson, and is understood to be a former pupil of St Patricks College, a catholic boy's school in Ballarat.
The accused was arrested at his home just after 6am on Wednesday.
In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton alleged there was a "deliberate attack" on Ms Murphy.
Police also allege she was murdered in Mount Clear on the day she disappeared.
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2024-03-08 12:00:00Z
CBMi1gFodHRwczovL3d3dy5za3luZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9hdXN0cmFsaWEtbmV3cy92aWdpbC1mb3Itc2FtYW50aGEtbXVycGh5LXRvLWJlLWhlbGQtaW4tYmFsbGFyYXRzLWV1cmVrYS1tZW1vcmlhbC1zdG9ja2FkZS1wYXJrLWFmdGVyLXBhdHJpY2stc3RlcGhlbnNvbi13YXMtY2hhcmdlZC13aXRoLW11cmRlci9uZXdzLXN0b3J5LzY2ZmNhMWNjNmI1OTkxYWJlNWRjNzk4NDdmMTliMDNi0gEA
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