‘Targeted’ search launched for the body of Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy
Victoria Police have intensified their search for Samantha Murphy by deploying specialised resources and the missing person squad to scour an area near Buninyong.
A mobile phone has been discovered in the renewed search for the body of missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.
Detectives scoured an area near Buninyong on Wednesday close to where her phone was last detected .
Aerial photos taken by Channel 9 show an excavator being used in the search area.
It has been confirmed that an excavator has been deployed by police as part of the search and a mobile phone was located while searching a dam, however it is not yet known whether it belonged to Ms Murphy or is related to the case in any way.
Footage captured showed police examining both a phone, which appeared to have a green flip case, and another undistinguishable item next to the dam with an evidence marker placed next to them.
A police statement Wednesday afternoon confirmed the discovery.
“Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad have located some items of interest in Buninyong this morning during their search for Samantha Murphy,” it said.
“The area has been cordoned off and those items will now be forensically tested.At this stage we are not providing further information about the items until that testing has been completed.
“The items were located during today’s targeted search, which involved investigators and other specialist units from across Victoria Police and assistance from the AFP. The investigation remains ongoing.
“Further information will be provided once we are in a position to do so.”
“Police are undertaking a targeted search in the Ballarat area today as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Samantha Murphy,” police said. “Police ask that members of the public do not attend the search at this time.
“Samantha’s family has also been advised of the search. We are not in a position to supply further specific details of today’s operational activity at this time.”
Previous searches conducted by police and volunteers in Buninyong, Enfield State Park and Woowookarung Regional Park have failed to find any traces of Ms Murphy.
Ms Murphy, 51, was last seen on February 4 when she left her Ballarat East home for a jog. Her remains have not been found.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, has been charged with her murder.
Stephenson, 22, who is due to appear in court on August 8, was not known to the Murphy family.
Police allege her murder was an “intentional act” and that he acted alone.
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