Samantha Murphy’s alleged killer, Patrick Orren Stephenson, charged with driving offenses over 2023 crash

The 22-year-old man accused of murdering Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy is also now facing new charges over an unrelated incident in October last year.

Patrick Orren Stephenson was charged on March 6 over the death of Murphy, 51, who police say was murdered at Mount Clear in Ballarat on the same day she disappeared three months ago.

Stephenson, son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, has now also been charged with a summons over a motorcycle accident in Ballarat on October 1, 2023.

He has been charged with driving under the influence, driving under the influence of drugs and reckless driving.

Stephenson crashed into a tree and no other vehicles were involved, according to the Herald Sun.

Multiple searches have failed to find Murphy’s body or any belongings he was believed to have been carrying with him, such as his phone and smartwatch, when he disappeared on February 4, after leaving his Ballarat home to go jogging in the nearby state. Canadian. Forest.

The latest search at Enfield State Park, about 30 miles from where Murphy disappeared, on April 11 and 12 came after police received intelligence “from multiple sources.”

Several specialized units were involved, but nothing was found.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton previously said Murphy had been killed in a “deliberate” act.

“He (Stephenson) has been charged with murder, so by his definition, we’re saying it was a deliberate attack on Samantha,” Patton said.

“Ultimately, he has been charged with murder, which by his definition means it was an intentional act.”

It is unclear exactly how the mother of three was murdered.

Stephenson is due in court for the driving violations on August 8, the same day he will be arraigned on his charges related to Murphy’s death.