After months of searching, police will test a phone found near a dam south of Ballarat to see if it belongs to missing Samantha Murphy.
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Victoria Police searched the dam on private property off the Buninyong-Mount Mercer Road on Wednesday, May 29. A spokesperson for Victoria Police confirmed there are no plans to search to same area on Thursday, May 30.
On Wednesday, police were first seen in the area in the morning, with an excavator removing blackberries from a fence line nearby.
By the afternoon, the search focused to the banks of the dam, which ACM's The Courier understands is at its lowest level since March.
The dam's owner said police notified him a few weeks ago they would be searching the roadside and the dam was at its lowest level in months.
The Murphy family were also notified of the search, police said.
About 11am, detectives found what appeared to be a smartphone with a wallet cover and cards, on the bank. An evidence marker was placed next to it before it was taken for forensic testing.
Just after 4pm, police divers entered the dam, searching the water for an hour.
Victoria Police said in a statement items of interest would be "forensically tested", but did not reveal what the items were or whether they were connected to the Samantha Murphy case.
They described the search as targeted, involving specialist units from Victoria Police as well as assistance from the Australian Federal Police.
In a statement, police confirmed they would not be providing further information about the items until testing had been completed.
"The investigation remains ongoing. Further information will be provided once we are in a position to do so," a spokesperson said.
"Police ask that members of the public do not attend the search at this time."
Several searches have been carried out south and east of Ballarat, from Canadian to Enfield, in the past few months.
Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, has been charged with murdering Ms Murphy, and will face court in August.
Ms Murphy was last seen on her home CCTV footage on Sunday, February 4, leaving on foot.
Her family raised she was missing when she did not come home in time for an event.
On February 9, the missing person squad took over the investigation.
Adam Spencer
Breaking news and emergency reporter.
