A scaled back search for the remains of missing mother Samantha Murphy will resume this morning for the third day of a new targeted operation near Ballarat.
Investigators are hoping for better weather conditions after yesterday’s search was hampered by heavy rain.
Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad alongside specialist interstate and federal police have been scouring bushland at the Enfield State Park, south of Ballarat.
The search area, which is littered with disused mineshafts, is about five kilometres away from where the 51-year-old’s mobile phone was discovered in a dam in May.
Officers on horseback and dirt bike teams covered trails in the parkland, while others used rakes to look for evidence beneath the undergrowth, assisted by sniffer dogs.
The search comes seven months after the 51-year-old was last seen alive on February 4.
Patrick Stephenson, 22, was charged with the murder of the missing mother-of-three in March but her body is yet to be found.
On May 29, detectives performed a “targeted search” south of Buninyong, about five kilometres south of where Murphy’s phone last pinged to a mobile phone tower.
Police later said they located items of interest, including an iPhone, which was sent for forensic testing.
Her husband Mick Murphy was called after police made the discovery. He told 9News he immediately knew it was hers.
It was hoped data from the device could lead them to Samantha’s body.
Stephenson has remained in custody.
The case will return to Ballarat Magistrates Court in November.
Murphy’s family has been advised of the latest search.
Police have asked members of the public to not attend the search area.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.