Top forensic psychologist reveals shock new Samantha Murphy phone theory – and why her alleged killer could be struggling in jail

A respected forensic psychologist has speculated that detectives who found Samantha Murphy’s iPhone were ‘tipped off’ to its location.

Victoria Police last week discovered Ms Murphy’s iPhone in the mud next to a dam on a property in Buninyong, about 19km from her Ballarat home.

The discovery comes four months after the mother of three disappeared during a 14km run through Woowookarung National Park on February 4.

Tim Watson-Munro said it was “clear” detectives had been “tipped off” to the location of the phone and he was surprised to hear it had not been damaged.

“I wondered if the phone had been there for four months,” Watson-Munro told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

Respected criminal psychologist Tim Munro-Watson has speculated that detectives who found Samantha Murphy’s iPhone were ‘tipped off’ to its location

Victoria Police search crews last week discovered Ms Murphy’s iPhone in the mud next to a dam on a property in Buninyong, about 19km from her Ballarat home

‘I would have found it highly unusual to expose a telephone to water beyond that period without any natural deterioration to the integrity and hardwiring of the telephone.

‘So it may well have been put there later, but that is purely speculative.’

Mr Watson-Munro said the phone could provide information about where Ms Murphy disappeared and whether she made the call during the flight.

“I saw the footage of when the police discovered it and there were high fives and they were very happy about it,” he said.

‘So they obviously see it as a positive development. What I find a bit intriguing is why the police chose that dam out of all the dams in the Ballarat district.

“They must have acted on other information to go to that dam, but we don’t know what it is and obviously they’re not going to reveal that because the investigation is still ongoing.”

He said police would continue to keep their cards close to their chests.

“They’re not going to telegraph all the information they have. No, they will release information selectively,” the psychologist said.

“I’m sure they have a bigger plan in mind that we are unaware of.”

The body of Ms Murphy (pictured left) has not been found after she went for a run at Woowookarung Regional Park in Ballarat, Victoria, on February 4.

Pictured is Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, who has been charged with murder over the disappearance of Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy

Daily Mail Australia understands police are still searching for other key pieces of evidence, such as Ms Murphy’s missing watch and headphones.

In early March, almost five weeks after Ms Murphy’s disappearance, 22-year-old local man Patrick Orren Stephenson was charged with her alleged murder.

Stephenson has yet to enter a plea and will appear in court again in August.

Mr Watson-Munro said new prisoners generally struggle behind bars and those with high-profile cases can be targeted by other prisoners.

“Generally speaking, people don’t do well in prison,” he explained.

‘Prisons are not farm holidays and for many of these people it is as if they are in a completely different world, where new rules apply, no decision-making and so on.

“Again, in general principles, prominent individuals who go to prison can be targeted. They are seen as individuals who can be vulnerable.

“They can also be seen as individuals who have wealth in the community so they can be ripped off for money.

“And it’s very difficult for those types of people to blend in with the general prison population.”