As part of their investigation into Samantha Murphy’s abduction and alleged murder, the police have undertaken another search in the Ballarat region.
This operation, which has been ongoing for seven months since the 51-year-old was last seen alive on February 4, is involving detectives from the Missing Persons Squad as well as expert interstate and federal police.
The 22-year-old Patrick Stephenson was arrested in March on murder charges, but the body of the missing mother of three has not been located.
In May, the search team made a major breakthrough when they found Murphy’s cell phone near Ballarat, on the brink of a dam on farmland.
About five kilometers south of Murphy’s last known location when it pings a mobile phone tower, detectives conducted a “targeted search” south of Buninyong on May 29.
Authorities were observed that day scouring the edge of a gravel road for any traces of evidence.
An iPhone, among other goods, was sent for forensic testing after the police later announced they found them.
It was determined to be Murphy’s phone the next day.
The cops contacted her husband, Mick Murphy, following the discovery.
He said it was hers the moment he laid eyes on it.
They were hoping that the device’s data would help them find Samantha’s body. The two-day search in June was repeated by the police.
Stephenson is still being held without release.
As a result of the “unprecedented” brief of evidence against him, the police requested a 12-week court adjournment in August.
November will see the case’s return to the Ballarat Magistrates Court.
We will restart our search tomorrow after informing Murphy’s family of the latest developments.
The police have specifically requested that the public refrain from the search area.
