The recent discovery of Samantha Murphy’s missing phone on the bank of a dam during a targeted search in Buninyong has provided a significant lead for investigators, who have been working tirelessly to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the 32-year-old mother. However, retired detective Charlie Bezzina has cautioned that this breakthrough might not be the definitive clue it seems.
Police unearthed the iPhone, encased in a teal wallet-like cover with cards inside, during a methodical search of the Buninyong-Mt Mercer Road area. The phone was found alongside other “items of interest” near the dam, raising hopes that it might yield crucial information about Ms. Murphy’s fate. Despite this, Bezzina, a seasoned investigator with decades of experience, believes the discovery could be a deliberate attempt by the perpetrator to mislead the authorities.
“It’s puzzling that the phone was found in such a location without prior intelligence,” Bezzina remarked, suggesting that the police might possess more information than they have publicly disclosed. He theorized that tracking data obtained while the phone was still active might have guided the search, hinting at a deeper, undisclosed understanding of the case by the police.
According to Bezzina, it’s plausible that the phone was kept by the offender for some time before being discarded in the dam, a tactic often employed to throw off investigators. “We don’t know when that phone was dumped in there. It is not unusual for offenders to keep items for a while, especially mobile phones,” he explained. “For all we know, that might have been discarded just weeks ago.”
The retired detective also highlighted the mysterious nature of mobile phone capabilities, questioning whether the phone could still transmit data even when turned off or if the battery had died. “There’s a lot the carrier, or carriers, don’t tell us about the capabilities of a phone,” Bezzina said. “When you’ve got a phone that’s off, people ask the question, ‘is it still transmitting,’ and ‘if the battery goes flat does it still transmit?’ Some do and some don’t.”
Samantha Murphy disappeared on the morning of February 4 after leaving for a run in the Canadian State Forest. Despite extensive searches, her body has yet to be found. The discovery of her phone, while significant, has not led to a resolution. Bezzina noted that offenders often return to dispose of evidence at a later date, complicating the timeline and the investigation.
As police divers continue to scour the dam and forensic teams analyze the recovered items, the mystery of Samantha Murphy’s disappearance remains unsolved. Bezzina’s insights serve as a sobering reminder that while the discovery of the phone is a crucial piece of the puzzle, it may not be the breakthrough needed to locate Ms. Murphy and bring closure to her family.
