Samantha Murphy's alleged killer faces fresh new charges
The man accused of murdering Samantha Murphy has been hit with fresh charges over a drug and alcohol-fuelled bender.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, who has been charged with murdering Ms Murphy, has been slapped with several drink and drug driving charges after he allegedly crashed a motorbike into a tree on the night of October 1st.
He has also been also charged with careless driving.
A former friend of Stephenson told the Herald Sun the crash occurred following an AFL Grand Final gathering that kicked off in the afternoon and ran late into the night.
Stephenson was first arrested in connection with the Ballarat mother's disappearance on March 7th, weeks after the 51-year-old was last seen alive.
Samantha Murphy was last seen by her loved ones on the morning of February 4th when she went to go on her daily morning run in the Canadian State Forest.
Stephenson has been charged with one count of murder, and is said to not be cooperating with police in efforts to find her body.
The new charges come after police have continued their gruelling search for Ms Murphy, three months after she went missing.
Despite numerous searches, Victoria Police detectives appear no closer to finding her body despite having her alleged killer in custody.
A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia this week that the investigation remained "very much active and ongoing".
"We are continuing to do all we can to locate her," the spokesperson said.
Image credits: Nine