Victoria Police have recovered what appears to be a phone while searching a dam south of Ballarat as part of their investigation into the alleged murder of mother-of-three Samantha Murphy.
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00:00 On the banks of a private dam, a possible breakthrough in a long-running search.
00:06 A police dog discovery, receding waters, revealing a phone.
00:10 Investigators check it out and after close to four months of searching, hugs and handshakes.
00:17 Detectives this afternoon poured resources into the area.
00:21 An excavator was brought in to clear land around the dam.
00:24 And while dogs scoured the perimeter, divers plunged the depths.
00:28 Today's development raises hopes that mother of three, Samantha Murphy, could finally be
00:33 found after months of dead ends.
00:35 The 51-year-old was last seen going for a run on February 4 with her phone and smartwatch,
00:41 but never returned home.
00:43 Police are alleging she was murdered that day by 22-year-old Patrick Orrin-Stevenson
00:48 in what they've called a deliberate act.
00:51 He remains in custody and will return to court in August.
00:55 For months, investigators have been scouring the region for her remains.
00:59 The search has spanned 16 weeks in an area more than 30 kilometres from the north of
01:04 the Murphys' home to Mount Clear, Bunanyong State Forest and Enfield State Forest.
01:10 But today, this is where they found the phone, in the dam just south of Bunanyong.
01:15 Today's discovery comes after police resumed what they called a targeted search, with missing
01:20 persons squad detectives, specialist resources and federal police descending on the area.
01:26 The owners of this property have been here for more than two decades.
01:30 This dam is usually used to supply water to their horses.
01:34 Tonight, it's the centre of a major police investigation.
01:40 Police will now forensically test the phone, but won't give any other details until testing
01:44 has been completed.
01:46 Earlier today, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the search for Samantha
01:51 Murphy will go on.
01:53 We continue to do everything we can to try and recover her body.
01:56 [BLANK_AUDIO]