'We just want closure': Samantha Murphy's friends and family react after local man charged with her murder

Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy's loved ones have spoken out after a 22-year-old man was arrested and charged over her alleged murder.

The 51-year-old mum-of-three was last seen leaving her Eureka Street home on February 4.

For weeks, the community and emergency services have been desperately searching for any signs of her.

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Detectives swooped early on Wednesday, arresting the man at a home in Scotsburn.

Police have confirmed that the man, believed to be the son of a former AFL footballer, is not known to the family.

"We're not looking for anyone else. It's not alleged at this stage that there's any accomplice," Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.

"We will be alleging that murder occurred at Mount Clear on the day she disappeared.

"In the interview with the suspect, he has not disclosed to police where Samantha's body is," he said.

Former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina said the top priority now was to find Samantha's body.

"Given the fact, it's a murder (charge), clearly she's deceased somewhere. Has this person divulged that?" he asked.

"Has this person been part and parcel? What part did this person play will be determined in court at a later date.

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"Police will still be acting upon all the other intelligence they have through the phone data they'll still be working through. So it's a long, long way to go," he said.

Samantha Murphy's close friend Bianca Card said they all just wanted closure.

"Sam is the sort of person that would do anything for anyone," Card said.

"We love Sam, she was one in a million.

"We just want closure, (the family) just want closure and yeah obviously the public want a form of closure too."

Samantha's husband Mick Murphy said the family was doing its best to stay strong.

"It hasn't been a good nearly five weeks," he said.

"It's something you wouldn't want anyone to experience ... we're doing as good as we can, keeping a brave face."

But he said the news of a breakthrough provided some form of relief.

"It's like someone's just let the pressure valve off, sort of thing."

The accused killer faced a remand hearing at Ballarat Magistrates' Court this afternoon. He'll return to court on August 8.