Criminologist Xanthe Mallet reveals how Samantha Murphy’s ‘undamaged’ phone could lead to finding her body

Investigators will use geodata to Samantha Murphyaccording to the newly discovered cell phone in an attempt to locate her body top criminologist Xanthe Malet.

Last Wednesday, missing persons detectives searching near a dam in Buninyong – not far from Murphy’s home in Ballarat – found her phone in a blue-coloured case.

On Monday, 7NEWS revealed that the phone was undamaged and in near perfect working order.

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Appearing on Sunrise on Tuesday, Mallett said the geodata offered renewed hope that Murphy’s body could be found four months after the Ballarat mother disappeared.

“(With the phone) we’re looking at possibly better geolocation data (for investigators) depending on how long the phone was on before the battery died, for example, or it turned off,” Mallett said.

“That can actually help build that geolocation picture to help map where the phone moved and potentially, therefore, where Samantha moved.”

Mallett said investigators will get as much information as possible from the phone.

She said police talking publicly about where the phone was found could remind potential witnesses.

“It’s possible there are more witnesses that can come forward because now we know about that dam, we know the phone was there,” Mallett said.

“So I’m hoping that now that the information is public, other people can come forward and offer information as to who may have disposed of this phone and when.”

Last week, Murphy’s husband confirmed to 7NEWS that her credit cards, license and iPhone were found in the mud of the dam.

Police divers and metal detectors were involved in the search of the dam, and aerial footage also showed an excavator digging up chunks of earth next to a road.

“Since February, police have regularly undertaken a range of small-scale inquiries and searches as part of the ongoing investigation,” Victoria Police said last Wednesday.

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

Murphy was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street, Ballarat, to go jogging in the Canadian National Forest on February 4.

Police say Patrick Oren Stevenson killed Murphy in nearby Mount Clear on the day she disappeared.

The 22-year-old was arrested in early March and charged with murder and is due back in court in August.

He is the son of former AFL player Oren Stevenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014.

The merchant has hired top criminal lawyer Paul Galbally, who represented the late Cardinal George Pell, to defend him, according to reports.