Police wrap up two-day search for Samantha Murphy, continue to probe phone

Victoria Police officers have spent the past two days searching the Ballarat area for missing mother Samantha Murphy, a fortnight after officers discovered her phone on the edge of a dam.

The 51-year-old mother was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest on the morning of February 4.

She has not yet been found, but on March 8, 22-year-old Patrick Orren Stephenson was charged with her alleged murder.

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Officers spent today and yesterday undertaking another "targeted" search in the Ballarat area as part of their investigation into her disappearance.

Missing Persons Squad detectives and a range of specialist police resources were involved in the search.

Police advised about 5pm that the search had concluded and said officers would not continue searching tomorrow.

"Since February, police have regularly undertaken a range of enquiries and small-scale searches as part of the current investigation," a statement from police said.

"Samantha's family has also been advised of the search.

"We are not in a position to supply further specific details of the operational activity at this time.

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"A number of items located during a search in Buninyong on 29 May are still being forensically assessed. There are no updates on this process."

Police discovered Samantha's iPhone by a private dam near Slaughterhouse Road, south of Buninyong, on May 29.

The dam was just five kilometres away from the phone tower where her mobile last pinged. 

Her husband Mick Murphy was called after police made the discovery. He told 9News he immediately knew it was hers. 

It's hoped data from the device can lead them to Samantha's body.