Police continue to scour bushland for missing mum Samantha Murphy

Detectives and SES volunteers have resumed a renewed search for missing Victorian mum Samantha Murphy in bushland west of Melbourne.

Police yesterday began scouring dense bushland at Enfield State Park, about 25 kilometres south of Ballarat, in search of the mother-of-three’s remains.

Today they continued their search of the park, which is 5 kilometres from the dam where the 51-year-old’s phone was found in May last year.
SES volunteers were part of a dedicated team searching Enfield State Park for traces of the missing mum. (Nine)
Enfield State Park is located about a 30-minute drive from Murphy’s home. (Nine)

Specialist police and SES volunteers were seen using shovels and pickaxes to survey rugged parts of bushland deep in the forest.

The public is asked to stay away from the search area today.

Police revealed new intelligence prompted the fresh search, but are remaining tight-lipped about where the information came from.
Samantha Murphy (right) pictured with husband Mick and one of their three children. (Nine)

“It is another search that is based on more intelligence that would indicate we need to conduct more work in that area,” deputy commissioner Robert Hill said.

Murphy disappeared after leaving her home on Eureka Street, Ballarat, to go for a run on February 4 last year.

Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, has been charged with her murder.

He has pleaded not guilty ahead of his Supreme Court trial in April next year.

Police have probed bushland at Enfield State Park, which is about half an hour from the Murphy home, multiple times since the disappearance.

Stephenson was taken to a pine plantation about five kilometres from today’s search site at least twice in a bid to lead police to some sort of evidence.

It’s not believed any evidence of the 51-year-old has been found.