Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #9

[SouthAussie]

Does anyone else feel like the fact they had set aside 3 days to search the area but are now moving on, makes it less likely that it’s Sam’s phone?

I feel like if they had found Sam’s phone they would expand the search in that area?

It also seems a strange case to carry a phone in when running. It’s bulky.

Well, the detectives sure were delighted to find someone's phone.
What do we make of their delight, if it is not Sam's phone?

imo

 

[acutename]

Well, the detectives sure were delighted to find someone's phone.
What do we make of their delight, if it is not Sam's phone?

imo

detainee's phone? phone of an accessory?

 

[Dotta]

There was a photo in the phone case, on probably the driving licence, which looked like Samantha's face.

IMO it is the victim's phone.

 

[SouthAussie]

detainee's phone? phone of an accessory?

I would think that the found phone belongs to a female, due to the type of case it is pictured as being in.
If it belongs to a female accessory why would she throw it into a dam?
It is not as if the investigators can't get the text messages etc from the service provider, with a warrant.

imo

 

[nightrider17]

LOTS of assumptions here, but bear with me.

Potentially just a 32 minute trip (no stops and travelling at the speed limit) from the potential impact Recreation Rd / Boak Rd, via Point A (phone potentially ditched into dam), via Point B/C (my understanding of where another WebSleuther noted they had found / reported items of interest, big assumption on my part) to Yendon No 2 Road.

Are you referring to Enfield State Park area? IMO

Sceptical can you please elaborate on the Yendon No 2 Road the items of interest and where about this is ??

 

[Karin1974]

Does anyone else feel like the fact they had set aside 3 days to search the area but are now moving on, makes it less likely that it’s Sam’s phone?

I feel like if they had found Sam’s phone they would expand the search in that area?

It also seems a strange case to carry a phone in when running. It’s bulky.

IMO - It would seem strangely inappropriate for police to be congratulating each other over finding a completely unrelated mobile phone whilst searching for Samantha Murphy.

 

[nightrider17]

I found an older satellite image of the site from before the house was built. It shows the dam in its low level form.

I've also updated the picture with the motocross/flat track on the property, as I believe it is relevant in the accused choosing of the property.

Someone mentioned many moons ago on here, that murderers when disposing of bodies etc... tend to enter a subconscious mode and will head directly to a place they are familiar with in a close proximity.

Thus, the motocross track on this property is relevant.

View attachment 506689View attachment 506690View attachment 506691

Whatson - I wonder if this property was on a list of properties the Police were enquiring about due to some connection to the accused in the past??

Someone he may have had dealings with?? JMO

Rather than he threw the phone out the window into a random dam.IMO

1) Maybe he has done some electrical work at this property at some point? IMO

2) Maybe he knew about the bike trails and had been invited to use them? by the child/person the bike trail was initially set up for? IMO

3)He Knew or was friends with someone connected to this property?? MOO

 

[SLouTh]

Does anyone else feel like the fact they had set aside 3 days to search the area but are now moving on, makes it less likely that it’s Sam’s phone?

I feel like if they had found Sam’s phone they would expand the search in that area?

It also seems a strange case to carry a phone in when running. It’s bulky.

A police source, speaking anonymously owing to the sensitivity of the investigation, was confident the phone was Murphy’s.

Phone found in fresh search for Samantha Murphy’s body

A police source, speaking anonymously owing to the sensitivity of the investigation, is confident the phone belonged to the 51-year-old mother.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Trooper]

Actually, seems like a logical place to relocate evidence to, provided there had been exhaustive searches done. IMO

Precisely. Maybe he gave the phone to someone else, murderers often do this, ( Milat gave away clothing of his victims to various girlfriends ( who had themselves photographed wearing the outfit) ) and that person got the jitters and threw it away. ..

A significant find, though, imagine how significant it must be to someone pouting away in the Remand Centre. ! what a horrid jolt to him.

 

[nightrider17]

A police source, speaking anonymously owing to the sensitivity of the investigation, was confident the phone was Murphy’s.

Phone found in fresh search for Samantha Murphy’s body

A police source, speaking anonymously owing to the sensitivity of the investigation, is confident the phone belonged to the 51-year-old mother.

www.theage.com.au

Given that this address is about 14 minutes drive from Boak/Recreation Road Mt Clear. IMO

Do you think the phone was disposed of last? IMO

If so then SM must surely be more likely (originally or still) in that vicinity?? JMO

PS say got as far as Napoleons/Scotchman Leads or Enfield then doubled back passing Buninyong-Mt Mercer Road as the last stop disposing of phone before resuming his life again??? MOO

 

[SouthAussie]

Precisely. Maybe he gave the phone to someone else, murderers often do this, ( Milat gave away clothing of his victims to various girlfriends ( who had themselves photographed wearing the outfit) ) and that person got the jitters and threw it away. ..

A significant find, though, imagine how significant it must be to someone pouting away in the Remand Centre. ! what a horrid jolt to him.

One thing that has crossed my mind is the way (in another case) Justin Stein said to his mum on a prison phone call that he needs her to go get something. She replied that she thinks the police already have it (they were talking in poor code about the murder weapon).
It may be that the accused in this case has asked something similar on the phone, to someone he trusted.
Maybe thinking things through now that he has lots of time to think.

imo

 

[SLouTh]

Given that this address is about 14 minutes drive from Boak/Recreation Road Mt Clear. IMO

Do you think the phone was disposed of last? IMO

If so then SM must surely be more likely (originally or still) in that vicinity?? JMO

PS say got as far as Napoleons/Scotchman Leads or Enfield then doubled back passing Buninyong-Mt Mercer Road as the last stop disposing of phone before resuming his life again??? MOO

BBM

I do believe it was possibly the last thing to be ditched … and possibly coincides with the time of the last ping ???? Was that about 3pm-ish ? Possibly just before it hit the water and went dead??

That would give the alleged offender many hours (approx 8 hours) to dispose of Samantha … possibly from about 7am - 3pm ish …. So agree it could have been on his way back from where ever he has taken her ….

All speculation and IMO

 

[Dotta]

And where is a watch?

 

[Whatson]

Whatson - I wonder if this property was on a list of properties the Police were enquiring about due to some connection to the accused in the past??

Someone he may have had dealings with?? JMO

Rather than he threw the phone out the window into a random dam.IMO

1) Maybe he has done some electrical work at this property at some point? IMO

2) Maybe he knew about the bike trails and had been invited to use them? by the child/person the bike trail was initially set up for? IMO

3)He Knew or was friends with someone connected to this property?? MOO

All just speculation, but... Big block of land with a recently built house and massive shed. My guess is the shed contains some earth moving machinery at least for maintaining the motocross track. The first thing I spotted yesterday was the freshly groomed track lol. So who knows what else. A decent house and property build 1 million+. Owners probably friends with accused's father. Accused and his father only 15-20 year age gap so probably both rode bikes together. Also likely father and son did electrical work on the house and shed build

 

[SLouTh]

And where is a watch?

Possibly buried with her ???? Still on her arm???
Or In the dam .?? Or Police also found that yesterday as well??? Just no one knows about it???
Harder to see a watch from a helicopter hovering at 2200 feet …. That footage of the phone from the Nine news helicopter was pretty amazing !!! IMO

 

[Whatson]

Is there actually a picture of the phone/case?

 

[Whatson]

Police confirm Samantha Murphy search has been paused day after 'items of interest' recovered

Divers were employed to search a dam on a property south of Ballarat on Wednesday, as detectives recovered a phone during a fresh search for evidence.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Cliff Hardy]

I would think that the found phone belongs to a female, due to the type of case it is pictured as being in.
If it belongs to a female accessory why would she throw it into a dam?
It is not as if the investigators can't get the text messages etc from the service provider, with a warrant.

imo

I have a phone case similar to that and I'm not female. But they are more commonly used by females.

There is red tape and time involved in getting personal data from service providers. With the phone is it quick and easy.

 

[Dotta]

"Multiple items of interest in the search for missing woman, Samantha Murphy, have been discovered by detectives in a dam near Buninyong.

The Missing Persons Squad, AFP investigators and specialist units from across Victoria Police spent yesterday morning and afternoon combing through the water on the private property.

Police have recovered what appears to be a mobile phone inside a phone case and

identification cards

at the site and say the items located will now be forensically tested."

Police find multiple items of interest in search for Samantha Murphy - 3BA

Multiple items of interest in the search for missing woman, Samantha Murphy, have been discovered by detectives in a dam...

www.3ba.com.au

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Does anyone else feel like the fact they had set aside 3 days to search the area but are now moving on, makes it less likely that it’s Sam’s phone?

I feel like if they had found Sam’s phone they would expand the search in that area?

It also seems a strange case to carry a phone in when running. It’s bulky.

Serious runners usually put their phone in one of those elasticized arm bands that go around their bicep. Not sure if a phone in a case like the one found would fit? But guessing it probably still would?