Major development in search for Samantha Murphy’s body as cops swarm new area

A new search has been launched for missing mother of three Samantha Murphy, seven months after she disappeared without a trace.

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

Victoria Police launched a targeted search of a wooded area near Grenville on Tuesday.

The search has ended for today, but will resume on Wednesday.

Detectives from the Missing Persons Unit and officers from the AFP and NSW are involved in the search.

‘Since February, police have regularly conducted a series of investigations and small-scale searches as part of the current investigation.

‘Samantha’s family has also been notified of the search.’

The public is urged to stay away from the new search area.

More coming soon.