Mark Hatt News Today

A leading criminologist believes Samantha Murphys phone could reveal her final movements after the device was found in perfect working condition beside a dam.

Police have launched a fresh search for missing woman Samantha Murphys remains and have deployed an excavator as part of their efforts.

Detectives appear to have made the first major breakthrough in the hunt for missing mum Samantha Murphy since they arrested her alleged killer almost three months ago.

The 51-year-old left her home in Ballarat East, northwest of Melbourne , on February 4, for her usual morning run but never returned.

Patrick Orren Stephenson has been hit with fresh charges of drink and drug driving after he allegedly crashed a motorbike in Ballarat last year.

The body of Samantha Murphy will have been abandoned in the bush for three months come Saturday. 

New photos of Samantha Murphy sharing happy moments with her husband Michael have emerged as he was joined in grieving the loss of the missing mother at an emotional rally last night.

Search crews have returned to thick scrub for the second day running in the hunt for the body of Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy. 

The "extensive", large-scale search for Samantha Murphy's body focused on an area that has come into focus through "intelligence derived through a number of sources", police say.

Search crews have abandoned their latest hunt for the body of Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy.