Source : Perth Now news
A man accused of murdering missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy has been hospitalised after reportedly attempting to take his own life.
A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesman confirmed a prisoner from the Melbourne Assessment Prison was transported to hospital today for medical assessment.
Patrick Orren Stevenson, 24, attempted suicide inside the Melbourne assessment prison where he was being held awaiting trial over the murder Ms Murphy’s murder, 9News reports.
Mr Stephenson pleaded not guilty to Ms Murphy’s murder and remains before the courts.
Despite numerous searches by both the police and the community, she has not been found after she failed to return from a run in February 2024.
She was last seen on CCTV in her driveway wearing a maroon shirt and black leggings as she set out.
When she failed to return, her family raised the alarm.
Her disappearance sparked a major search operation, focusing on bushland areas including the Canadian State Forest, Enfield State Park and Buninyong Bushland Reserve.
Mr Stephenson was arrested by Victoria Police about a month after Ms Murphy’s suspicious disappearance.
Mr Stephenson, the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, appeared in court the following day.
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