Police have called off a fresh search for the body of allegedly murdered Victorian mother Samantha Murphy.

Officials scoured parts of Buninyong on Wednesday, but were ultimately unsuccessful after over eight hours of searching.

Today Show reporter Christine Ahern told Ross and Russ what the police might have been thinking when they alerted media to their operation.

Click PLAY to hear Christine Ahern’s theory on 3AW

“Normally when they invite the media to film the searches it’s because they’re getting close or potentially apply some kind of pressure,” she said on 3AW Breakfast.

Image: Nine