In a bombshell development that’s rocked the Samantha Murphy murder investigation, police have unearthed a knife buried near the remote Northwood Trail — part of the Woowookarung Regional Park where the Ballarat mother’s final phone signal pinged on February 4, 2024. The weapon, hidden under layers of leaves and soil, bears no fingerprints from prime suspect Patrick Orren Stephenson — but DNA testing has revealed traces belonging to an unidentified third person, thrusting the case into uncharted territory.

Sources close to Victoria Police describe the find as “game-changing,” with the blade showing signs of recent disturbance despite the area’s heavy prior searches. Forensic analysis confirmed the absence of Stephenson’s prints, while partial DNA profiles match a male individual with no known ties to either the accused or victim. Labeled a “person of extreme interest,” this mystery figure has triggered urgent new inquiries, including database cross-checks and re-interviews of locals who frequented the trails.

The discovery has forced detectives to reconsider timelines and motives, raising chilling possibilities: Was the knife planted to mislead? Did a second accomplice play a role? Or could it belong to an opportunistic third party who stumbled upon the scene?

The Knife That Could Rewrite the Case

The weapon — a standard hunting-style knife with a 6-inch blade, rusted but intact — was located during a targeted dig prompted by fresh cadaver dog alerts in late November 2025. Buried shallowly about 200 meters from Murphy’s last known GPS location, it tested positive for trace blood consistent with human origin, though degraded by weather and time.

Preliminary lab results:

No fingerprints: Wiped clean or degraded, ruling out direct handling by Stephenson.
DNA breakthrough: Mixed profiles include victim-like traces and dominant male DNA not matching the suspect’s known sample.
No match in databases: The third person’s profile is unregistered, sparking statewide appeals for voluntary samples from trail users.

Investigators now believe the knife may have been the murder weapon or a discard attempt gone wrong. “This isn’t coincidental,” one insider said. “It’s forcing us to expand the net — potentially beyond one perpetrator.”

Timeline of Terror: From Jog to Unsolved Nightmare

Samantha Murphy, 51, vanished mid-morning during her routine run, leaving behind a devastated husband Mick and three children. Phone data placed her in the dense bushland before silence fell. Stephenson, 23, was charged in March 2024 after digital evidence allegedly linked him, but he’s pleaded not guilty, with trial set for 2026 amid massive evidence delays.

Prior searches yielded her phone and wallet in a distant dam — but no body, fueling speculation of concealment. This knife marks the first potential physical weapon, breathing frantic new energy into efforts as the two-year mark looms.

The Murphy family, enduring relentless grief, has welcomed the find cautiously. “Anything that brings us closer to answers — and Sam home — is progress,” a supporter said on their behalf.

Third Person Mystery: Who Is He?

The unidentified male’s DNA has no criminal record hits, but partial matches suggest regional ties — possibly a hiker, hunter, or someone familiar with the park’s hidden spots. Police are urging men who used the trails in early 2024 to come forward voluntarily, stressing elimination over suspicion.

Theories swirling:

Accomplice: Assisted Stephenson in disposal or cleanup.
Frame job: Planted to cast doubt.
Unrelated: Discarded earlier, coincidentally near the site.
Opportunist: Encountered the scene post-incident.

Ballarat buzzes with whispers, while online sleuths pore over old trail cam footage. Victoria Police remain tight-lipped but confirm “multiple active lines,” including re-testing all prior evidence against the new profile.

A Community on Edge — Hope Amid Heartbreak

As Christmas approaches, this revelation offers bittersweet momentum in one of Australia’s most gripping cases. Volunteers renew calls for tips, while experts warn against vigilante theories.

Samantha’s story — a fit, loving mum stolen mid-stride — resonates deeply. This knife, with its stranger’s DNA, may finally unlock the truth… or plunge the mystery deeper.

The hunt intensifies. Justice for Sam hangs on what — or who — comes next.