Items of Interest Discovered in Ongoing Search for Samantha Murphy
- Police make a major breakthrough in the search for missing mum Samantha Murphy by finding a cellphone on the banks of a dam.
- Members of the public are urged not to join the search for Murphy's body, which is ongoing almost four months after her disappearance.
- Police have launched a fresh search for Samantha Murphy's remains and have deployed an excavator in their efforts.
Police found a mobile phone near a dam while looking for Samantha Murphy, a missing mom. A man named Patrick Orren Stephenson was charged with her murder in March. Police searched a dam near Buninyong, 14km from her home, to find her remains. They used a metal detector and an excavator to search the area. They found 'items of interest' during the search. The police are testing these items to learn more. A dog found something on the banks of the dam, leading to the discovery of the phone. Detectives spoke to witnesses about a month after Murphy vanished. Her husband, Mick Murphy, has been searching for her and has not entered a plea to the charges against Stephenson. Police found 'items of interest' in a search for Samantha Murphy's body in Ballarat. They asked the public not to interfere with the search. Murphy's family was informed about the search. Previous searches focused on Enfield State Park and Buninyong. Murphy went missing after a morning run in February. Detectives are continuing the search with specialist resources. Stephenson, the accused, has not cooperated with the police. Detectives are racing against time to find Murphy's body. Murphy's husband hopes for closure and has been actively involved in the search efforts. Stephenson faces charges for drink and drug driving after a motorbike crash in October. He has also been charged with careless driving. The police are focused on finding Samantha Murphy and bringing her back to her family.