Australia Samantha Murphy, 51, last seen leaving her property to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest, Ballarat, 4 Feb 2024 *Arrest* #13

[BreakingNews]

Do we actually know for certain 100% that it really was Samantha's phone that was found? We seem to think that the police jubilation upon finding it may have been an act - so how do we know that the whole thing wasn't an act?

I guess police are under no obligation to tell the public anything. When they do, it is probably a tactic or in the public's best interest to know.

 

[BreakingNews]

DBM duplicate

 

[Kemug]

I would think that he must have really panicked at some point - either immediately, or soon after. I wonder how long it lasted. Maybe he still is panicking (I sure would be.) It seems very likely that in his panic he called someone to come and help. But maybe just something like "Hey mate, can I come and borrow your truck?" I also wonder if he made any aborted calls, eg to his father. I don't think we have his phone, do we?

 

[Lucy.D]

I would think that he must have really panicked at some point - either immediately, or soon after. I wonder how long it lasted. Maybe he still is panicking (I sure would be.) It seems very likely that in his panic he called someone to come and help. But maybe just something like "Hey mate, can I come and borrow your truck?" I also wonder if he made any aborted calls, eg to his father. I don't think we have his phone, do we?

It's hard to imagine how someone in their early 20's, who some believe was still in a drunken drug fuelled stupor after a big night out, could think so clearly as to not leave an obvious trail for police to follow.
Anyone like the mate with a truck would be called an accomplice knowing now the accused may have used it to move a body.
Far worse if the scenario was hey mate I've got a body that I want you to hide and get the mate to do it.
Or even worse than that would be hey mate I've got another body for you to hide.
Anyone who knows exactly what happened I think should be called an accomplice and it's that person or people I believe the police are trying to flush out.
Police would know by now from what the accused has said or shown them if someone else was involved.
That's where I think a reward would come in handy if police can't work it out themselves and believe the accused had assistance.
It's now been 18 months since Samantha disappeared and if more than one person was involved then they should be jailed and that should be everyone's opinion.

 

[BreakingNews]

It's hard to imagine how someone in their early 20's, who some believe was still in a drunken drug fuelled stupor after a big night out, could think so clearly as to not leave an obvious trail for police to follow.
Anyone like the mate with a truck would be called an accomplice knowing now the accused may have used it to move a body.
Far worse if the scenario was hey mate I've got a body that I want you to hide and get the mate to do it.
Or even worse than that would be hey mate I've got another body for you to hide.
Anyone who knows exactly what happened I think should be called an accomplice and it's that person or people I believe the police are trying to flush out.
Police would know by now from what the accused has said or shown them if someone else was involved.
That's where I think a reward would come in handy if police can't work it out themselves and believe the accused had assistance.
It's now been 18 months since Samantha disappeared and if more than one person was involved then they should be jailed and that should be everyone's opinion.

MOO, but I have always believed he allegedly did this on his own. Even in a drug/alcohol infused state, after a major event like a death, it can instantly 'sober' up anyone.

 

[Dotta]

MOO, but I have always believed he allegedly did this on his own. Even in a drug/alcohol infused state, after a major event like a death, it can instantly 'sober' up anyone.

Besides,
this terrain is like a backyard to him.
He surely knows all places to hide a body without leaving a trace.
Not to mention abandoned hidden mine shafts.
There was also fire in the vicinity of the attack, no?

I honestly lost hope poor Samantha will ever be found
This land is too vast and the nature is wild.

JMO

 

[Lucy.D]

Besides,
this terrain is like a backyard to him.
He surely knows all places to hide a body without leaving a trace.
Not to mention abandoned hidden mine shafts.
There was also fire in the vicinity of the attack, no?

I honestly lost hope poor Samantha will ever be found
This land is too vast and the nature is wild.

JMO

I think the hiding places would need to be close to a track because bodies are very difficult to carry a long distance.
The last pings and the time he got home would indicate how far he could have driven which would narrow the search area down.
I think he would have sobered up all right but I can't see him being smart enough not to have made a mistake.
Why would he need to be taken twice to the search area. I believe it was because the body was moved by someone else and he took the police first to where Samantha died and then he took the police to another place where he thought the body would be and I'm probably the only one who thinks that.
I believe the police should have waited longer than a month before arresting the accused and it would have given more hope of locating Samantha.
Police think they have enough evidence to have him found guilty of murder but I believe finding Samantha is just about as equally important.

 

[Rocket333]

I would think that he must have really panicked at some point - either immediately, or soon after. I wonder how long it lasted. Maybe he still is panicking (I sure would be.) It seems very likely that in his panic he called someone to come and help. But maybe just something like "Hey mate, can I come and borrow your truck?" I also wonder if he made any aborted calls, eg to his father. I don't think we have his phone, do we?

In March 2024 when Stephenson was arrested they siezed his ute and searched his various homes. They would definitely have his phone and its call logs, location history, deleted messages, app activity, and search queries. I suspect that location pings and/or GPS tags placed him (repeatedly even) around certain areas such as the Buninyong–Mt Mercer Road (the dam road) and that motivated the big search along that stretch of road rather than some random hunch.

 

[Rocket333]

I think the hiding places would need to be close to a track because bodies are very difficult to carry a long distance.

Close to a track seems likely given it’s hard to carry a body far, and also you’d be wanting to get out of there and avoid detection. The body may have also been moved in stages or concealed in terrain not easily accessible by vehicle. He’s a big guy so maybe he pulled up in his ute and ventured further in on foot. But even with all the searching and resources thrown at this, her body still hasn’t been found so whoever hid it has stayed ahead of the usual search efforts.Those forests are also massive, crisscrossed with tracks, fire trails, and paths that can’t all be mapped. If Stephenson grew up exploring them by ute or his dirt bike, he’d have a mental map far more detailed than any GPS overlay. This is his backyard and he’d know which tracks are rarely used, which ones loop back, and which offer quick exits or concealment.

The last pings and the time he got home would indicate how far he could have driven which would narrow the search area down.

We don’t actually know how much time passed between what happened in Canadian/Woowookarung and when the body might’ve been moved to Enfield or wherever. They haven’t really searched beyond something like a 30k radius which implies that phone data didn’t go further afield. It was a hot Summer day too, which makes it hard to imagine a body being left in a sealed ute tray for long without serious risk. For all we know, the final location could’ve taken a few stages, maybe even a couple of trips over several days. That might explain if there’s repeated drives along the same routes. Matt Sorrell’s testimony about the phone data will be fascinating.

I think he would have sobered up all right but I can't see him being smart enough not to have made a mistake.

Looks like Stephenson thought he was being smart, but the unprecedented mountain of evidence might just be all the mistakes he made. He probably sees the lack of a body as proof he’s outsmarted the system and his not guilty line might feel like control, but it’s looking more like denial.

Why would he need to be taken twice to the search area.

One trip was to Canadian/Woowookarung where it started and Samantha disappeared. The other trip was to Enfield, which I’ve always imagined was the end point. I’d say his GPS places him in both spots and anchors him to both ends of the timeline.

I believe it was because the body was moved by someone else and he took the police first to where Samantha died and then he took the police to another place where he thought the body would be and I'm probably the only one who thinks that.

Police have said they’re not looking for anyone else, and no other person of interest has surfaced in 20 months. If Stephenson took VicPol to two locations, it likely reflects his own movements, not someone else’s involvement. The evidence trail and court mentions seem to focus on him alone.

I believe the police should have waited longer than a month before arresting the accused and it would have given more hope of locating Samantha.

Weeks of surveillance, strategic timing with the early morning arrest, and a full sweep of his ute, homes and belongings indicates a calculated move that wasn’t rushed or reactive. Waiting longer might’ve also risked losing evidence or having him flee or whatever. We don’t know what intel they had but he would’ve been on their radar early, and they would’ve struck when the window was right.

Police think they have enough evidence to have him found guilty of murder but I believe finding Samantha is just about as equally important.

The case looks strong with no known bail application, a solid witness list, and a forensic trail that’s likely hard to ignore. But finding Samantha matters just as much, if not more. It’s about emotional and moral resolution, and dignity for Sam and her family, and not just conviction and legal closure. The system can move forward without a body, but her family need her home.

 

[Dotta]

I seem to remember reading
his car was seen in the Canadian Forest by a witness.
Or was it a Park?
Shoot me, I don't recall the exact name.

And there were searches there
- with cadaver dogs ( borrowed from another state).

But, unfortunately, Police left empty handed.
Maybe the body was actually moved further away from this point.
At night?

No trace of Samantha

 

[Lucy.D]

Close to a track seems likely given it’s hard to carry a body far, and also you’d be wanting to get out of there and avoid detection. The body may have also been moved in stages or concealed in terrain not easily accessible by vehicle. He’s a big guy so maybe he pulled up in his ute and ventured further in on foot. But even with all the searching and resources thrown at this, her body still hasn’t been found so whoever hid it has stayed ahead of the usual search efforts.Those forests are also massive, crisscrossed with tracks, fire trails, and paths that can’t all be mapped. If Stephenson grew up exploring them by ute or his dirt bike, he’d have a mental map far more detailed than any GPS overlay. This is his backyard and he’d know which tracks are rarely used, which ones loop back, and which offer quick exits or concealment.

We don’t actually know how much time passed between what happened in Canadian/Woowookarung and when the body might’ve been moved to Enfield or wherever. They haven’t really searched beyond something like a 30k radius which implies that phone data didn’t go further afield. It was a hot Summer day too, which makes it hard to imagine a body being left in a sealed ute tray for long without serious risk. For all we know, the final location could’ve taken a few stages, maybe even a couple of trips over several days. That might explain if there’s repeated drives along the same routes. Matt Sorrell’s testimony about the phone data will be fascinating.

Looks like Stephenson thought he was being smart, but the unprecedented mountain of evidence might just be all the mistakes he made. He probably sees the lack of a body as proof he’s outsmarted the system and his not guilty line might feel like control, but it’s looking more like denial.

One trip was to Canadian/Woowookarung where it started and Samantha disappeared. The other trip was to Enfield, which I’ve always imagined was the end point. I’d say his GPS places him in both spots and anchors him to both ends of the timeline.

Police have said they’re not looking for anyone else, and no other person of interest has surfaced in 20 months. If Stephenson took VicPol to two locations, it likely reflects his own movements, not someone else’s involvement. The evidence trail and court mentions seem to focus on him alone.

Weeks of surveillance, strategic timing with the early morning arrest, and a full sweep of his ute, homes and belongings indicates a calculated move that wasn’t rushed or reactive. Waiting longer might’ve also risked losing evidence or having him flee or whatever. We don’t know what intel they had but he would’ve been on their radar early, and they would’ve struck when the window was right.

The case looks strong with no known bail application, a solid witness list, and a forensic trail that’s likely hard to ignore. But finding Samantha matters just as much, if not more. It’s about emotional and moral resolution, and dignity for Sam and her family, and not just conviction and legal closure. The system can move forward without a body, but her family need her home.

Thank you for that detailed breakdown @Rocket333. You did a good job. We differ a fair bit.
I can understand the first trip to the search area was to where Samantha died.
Do you think the second trip was where the accused placed the body.
It wasn't there, so does that mean someone moved it, or he wasn't telling the truth?
Why didn't they go to both locations on one trip?
And also is the dam where the phone was found on the way between the two places?

 

[Rocket333]

I can understand the first trip to the search area was to where Samantha died.
Do you think the second trip was where the accused placed the body. Why didn't they go to both locations on one trip?

Basically yes, but the police don’t know where her body was placed. I suspect that they’ve got data placing Stephenson in Canadian/Woowookarung that Sunday morning when Sam disappeared, and then sometime afterwards in Enfield. As he is reported to not be co-operating and is pleading not guilty, the only reason I can come up with for him agreeing to go (I doubt he’d be made to go) is if he has provided an alibi and the visit to Woowookarung and Enfield was about testing that alibi’s durability and how it held up on site and under pressure. As a tradey he’d use his ute for work and IIRC he went to work the next day (Monday). If the ute was used to transport a body, it seems likely the body would need to be gone in time for work the next day. I would guess that the two trips occurred on separate days because each place tells a different part of the story, and they wanted to prevent confusion and fatigue, and keep his reactions to each place separate and clear. Hard to say and harder to know if he cooperated or conversed during either trip. Again though, I doubt he was forced to go, and therefore suspect that his motivation was completely self-serving with both trips used to scope and rehearse his story or alibi rather than to cooperate.

It wasn't there, so does that mean someone moved it, or he wasn't telling the truth?

It’s not that it isn’t there. They just haven’t found it yet. He has never confessed to any part of it or said where the body is hidden. He isn’t talking or co-operating so technically he hasn’t lied. He’s withheld, not misled. He's also pleading not guilty and would be banking on the body not being found. As mentioned before, the police said they aren’t looking at anyone else, and they haven’t gone after anyone during the past year and a half. They would have a pretty clear picture of what occurred.

And also is the dam where the phone was found on the way between the two places?

Yes. The dam is on the Buningyong Mt Mercer Road between the Canadian forest and Enfield. The dam is close to the road and we have all discussed him possibly pulling up on the side of the road and lobbing it over the bushes into the dam which had a fair bit of water in it at the time. The phone was turned off at Canadian but apparently pinged around Buninyong that afternoon. Probably hoped water immersion would fry it. Hiding a body extremely well and then tossing the phone in someone’s dam seems at odds. I think the phone was a panicked and spontaneous decision on the way home.