Samantha Murphy search: Ex-cop Charlie Bezzina slams investigators over 'PR ... trends now
Former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina has lashed out at Victoria Police over its handling of the search for Samantha Murphy, blasting a widely publicised search as a PR stunt.
Wednesday marks 52 days since the 51-year-old vanished after she left her East Ballarat home to go for a run in Woowookrung Regional Park at 7am on February 4 in a cold case that has shocked the nation.
No trace of the mother-of-three has been found, despite Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, being charged with her murder.
One week ago, search crews returned to the Buninyong bush, south of Ballarat, in what was the force's first publicly advertised search since February 22. Images from the search captured cadaver dogs, cops on motorbikes and dozens of officers on foot preparing to scour the terrain.
Despite the vast resources the search was short-lived, with police abandoning efforts at 2.30pm after just eight hours.
Mr Bezzina told Daily Mail Australia he had expected more from investigators and described it as a 'show pony' search.
'There were no line searches and they didn't even get the SES involved. From the outside looking in, you might think it was just a PR stunt,' he said.
'The search looked uncoordinated - it didn't make sense.'
Former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina (pictured) has lashed Victoria Police for launching a 'show pony' search for missing mother-of-three Samantha Murphy
The former detective was surprised that the police decided to halt the search at the new site so soon.
He claimed that their decision to stop the search hours later had 'backfired on them' - with pressure now mounting for officers to bring closure to the Murphy family.
A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia last week's effort was 'a real search conducted as part of a significant investigation'.
On Thursday - a day after the publicised search - Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton revealed on read more from dailymail.....
