New targeted searches are being conducted for Samantha Murphy’s body, following the discovery of her phone late last month.
Murphy’s phone was found in its teal-coloured case by missing persons squad detectives searching near a dam in Buninyong, approximately 10 minutes from Murphy’s Ballarat home, undamaged and in near-perfect working condition.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: New development in Samantha Murphy case.
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Following the discovery, Victoria Police conducted targeted searches in the Ballarat area on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The search will not continue on Thursday.
“Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad as well as a range of specialist resources from across Victoria Police were involved in the search,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“Since February, police have regularly undertaken a range of inquiries and small-scale searches as part of the current investigation.”
Murphy’s phone and other items located last month are still being forensically assessed, the spokesperson confirmed.
Murphy was last seen leaving her home on Eureka St, Ballarat, to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest on February 4.
In March, police searched extensively for the missing mother in the Buninyong area but could not find any trace of her.
There have also been extensive searches of the Canadian State Forest and Enfield State Park over the past few months.
Police allege Patrick Orren Stephenson murdered Murphy at nearby Mount Clear on the day she went missing.
The 22-year-old was arrested at the beginning of March and charged with murder, and is due to return to court in August.
He is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.
The tradesman has hired top criminal defence lawyer Paul Galbally, who represented the late Cardinal George Pell, to defend him, according to reports.