Police have launched a “targeted” search for the body of Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy, 51, in bushland close to where her mobile phone was found in May.

The fresh hunt began on Tuesday in the Grenville area, south of Ballarat, and will resume on Wednesday.

The latest operation comes about four months after a major breakthrough when police discovered Murphy’s mobile phone on the bank of a muddy dam at Buningyong in May.

But despite extensive searches in bushland around Ballarat, there has still been no sign of Murphy since she went for a morning run in February and never returned home.

Victoria Police said detectives from the missing persons squad were involved in the latest ground search. Also involved are specialist police from Victoria, NSW and the Australian Federal Police.

“Since February, police have regularly undertaken a range of enquiries and small-scale searches as part of the current investigation,” a police statement said.

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

“We are not in a position to supply further specific details of [Tuesday’s] operational activity at this time.

“The search will resume tomorrow (Wednesday).

“Police ask that members of the public do not attend the search at this time.”

Murphy was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street, Ballarat, to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest on the morning of February 4.

A month later, police charged tradesman Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22 – the son of a former AFL player – with her murder.

Stephenson faced Ballarat Magistrates Court in August when his case was delayed a further three months to allow prosecutors to go through a massive brief of evidence that contained “extensive” CCTV.

Stephenson was remanded in custody until the case returns to the Ballarat court on November 14.