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

[Reneemaree88]

Phone found during fresh search for body of Samantha Murphy​

Detectives have unearthed a mobile phone as they scoured a dam as part of a “targeted search” for the body of missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy.

Investigators have uncovered a phone while searching a dam for the body of missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.
Crews scoured the area surrounding the dam in Buninyong, where they located what appeared to be an iPhone on Wednesday afternoon.
It is not clear whether the phone belonged to Ms Murphy.

Buninyong was where Ms Murphy’s phone was last detected by mobile phone towers at 5pm on the day she vanished.

Wednesday’s police operation was described as a “targeted search” for Ms Murphy’s body.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/fresh-search-underway-for-body-of-samantha-murphy/news-story/daf8a2bab1ab95ae22b2c6113d995505

 

[SLouTh]

New free article with a good photo …

Dam search concludes after phone found in search for missing Ballarat mother

www.9news.com.au

Also states

9News understands items have been found near the dam.

Wonder if they have also found other significant belongings ??? With “items” pleural ???? Although that could mean phone plus case???

 

[JLZ]

Phone found during fresh search for body of Samantha Murphy​

Detectives have unearthed a mobile phone as they scoured a dam as part of a “targeted search” for the body of missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy.

Investigators have uncovered a phone while searching a dam for the body of missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.
Crews scoured the area surrounding the dam in Buninyong, where they located what appeared to be an iPhone on Wednesday afternoon.
It is not clear whether the phone belonged to Ms Murphy.

Buninyong was where Ms Murphy’s phone was last detected by mobile phone towers at 5pm on the day she vanished.

Wednesday’s police operation was described as a “targeted search” for Ms Murphy’s body.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/fresh-search-underway-for-body-of-samantha-murphy/news-story/daf8a2bab1ab95ae22b2c6113d995505

It's Durham Lead rather than Buninyong.

 

[Whatson]

 

[MrJ]

Lincoln Holmes on Twitter/X:

UPDATE: During today’s search in the Ballarat area for missing mother Samantha Murphy, detectives searched some of the Buninyong area. Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad located some items of interest.
@6NewsAU

Police say that the area has been cordoned off. The items found will now be forensically tested.
@6NewsAU

 

[Reneemaree88]

A much better image of the phone.

 

[MrJ]

Lincoln Holmes on Twitter/X:
Police have called today’s search a “targeted search”. It involved investigators and other specialist units from across Victoria Police. Assistance was also provided from the AFP.
@6NewsAU


Police add that the investigation is ongoing. They are asking members of the public do not attend the search area at this time.
@6NewsAU

 

[Sor Juana]

DBM

 

[Sor Juana]

Victoria Police later confirmed “some items of interest” had been found, but didn’t specify a phone was among them. However, television cameras clearly capture a phone being inspected.

 

[OptimusLime]

This is good news, hopefully

 

[SouthAussie]

Is he talking now? Is Sam in the vicinity? Or maybe someone else saw the phone and knew to contact the police right away. Not touch anything.

I hope it is Sam's phone. They might make some progress in finding Sam.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Really seems like a phone cover. The a-

Is anyone able to read the full Courier Article ??
I have read that the article states a “phone has been found” …
(Read on Missing Persons Page)
But would prefer clarification that the article does actually say that ???

I can read it.
Will paraphrase.

What was found is a smartphone and wallet cover.

Edited to add that Police divers had arrived.

 

[iamshadow21]

That looks exactly like the phone cover I use

Yeah, I use that style, too, though mine is a Nokia, not an iPhone. It closes like a book with a magnet clasp. The cover side has little pockets for business or credit cards or whatever. I have my Opal card, my ID, and occasionally appointment cards in mine.

 

[SLouTh]

Crime scene officers soon arrived at the property after a sniffer dog drew about a dozen police to the dam’s banks.

A television camera captured a pair of police officers then donning masks, laying down a yellow evidence marker and photographing a phone.
Shortly after 4pm, a police diver entered the dam to search for Murphy’s body.

Snipped …

Paywalled for some, but also free ..

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

 

[brjakj]

7news: water levels in the dam are at the lowest in a while.

Maybe the items were spotted by a farmer or passer-by?

 

[iamshadow21]

7news: water levels in the dam are at the lowest in a while.

Maybe the items were spotted by a farmer or passer-by?

Yeah, I wondered if the levels had dropped, exposing things that had always been there, just under water until now.

 

[SouthAussie]

Crime scene officers soon arrived at the property after a sniffer dog drew about a dozen police to the dam’s banks.

A television camera captured a pair of police officers then donning masks, laying down a yellow evidence marker and photographing a phone.
Shortly after 4pm, a police diver entered the dam to search for Murphy’s body.

Snipped …

Paywalled for some, but also free ..

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

Buninyong - Mt Mercer Road, a few km south of where Sam disappeared.

If a sniffer dog drew them there, it is either Sam's phone by scent, or it was a technology dog and it found a phone, or it was a cadaver dog and there is the smell of death in the area for the dog.

imo

 

[SLouTh]

This is good news, hopefully

Yes let’s hope so … the sniffer dog identifying the dam has given me renewed hope…

IMO

 

[drsleuth]

Thinking of Mick, the kids & Sam's family, it must be such a roller coaster ride for them

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Please let this be the final search that brings Samantha back for her family, it's been far too long. Let this also be the search that makes her killer squirm and become very, very uncomfortable.

One of the articles posted today mentioned a green phone cover, one that folds over and opens like a book, I think they're called flip covers. There was mention too (maybe by a member and not the news) that it could have had a wrist strap. Perhaps it was something like the attached file?

The fact police were congratulating each other, that more than one item was found, and that divers are being used makes me hopeful for a resolution very soon.