UPDATE: 3.08pm: Paul Halls was working on his ute with friends west of Leeton on Sunday when he saw a man pull up and head on foot for a murky canal nearby, carrying something that looked like a laptop, before returning empty-handed.
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"I thought it was a bit odd," Mr Halls said of the scene that unfolded on Griffith Road, a few kilometres out of town.
When Mr Halls later heard police appealing for information about the disappearance of school teacher Stephanie Scott, he realised the possible significance of what he had seen and called the police.
Police divers recovered a laptop on Friday morning, close to where Mr Halls reported seeing the man wearing a baseball cap running along the embankment.
"My first reaction was 'Oh geez, I should given them a ring a couple days ago', but you can't tell until you hear about them asking for information."
What Mr Halls saw could prove crucial for police, who will allege Mr Stanford allegedly killed Ms Scott sometime between 11am and 7.20pm on Easter Sunday.
Mr Halls' friend, Brendon Lyons, also saw a man run up to the irrigation canal and run back to his ute on Sunday, before speeding off in the direction of Leeton.
The discovery came as dozens of police taped off Leeton High School on Myrtle Street and scoured the grounds and classrooms for clues as to how Ms Scott was killed.
Cleaner Vincent Stanford, 24, has been charged with her murder. Police allege he killed the bride-to-be and dumped her body.
UPDATE: 2.30pm: The State Emergency Service and the Leeton Volunteer Rescue Association are assisting police as the search continues for the body of murdered teacher and bride-to-be Stephanie Scott.
Shortly before 11.30am on Friday, the SES and VRA started a new search at Leeton High School.
Volunteers and police have been methodically working their way through the school grounds and buildings ever since.
Earlier on Friday morning the groups had been involved in a search on Main Road 80, north west of Leeton.
EARLIER: Police divers have pulled what appears to be a laptop from an irrigation canal near Leeton during their search for school teacher Stephanie Scott.
The divers targeted the canal a few kilometres outside the NSW Riverina town after a witness reported seeing a man throw something into the water on Easter Monday.
The witness, who gave his name as Brendan, said the man appeared to be wearing a baseball cap.
Divers were scouring the murky water on Friday as part of a broader search of the area following the death of 26-year-old Ms Scott.
She was allegedly killed by school cleaner Vincent Stanford, 24, on Easter Sunday - one week before her planned wedding to fiancé Aaron Leeson-Woolley. Mr Stanford was charged with Ms Scott's murder on Thursday.
A photograph was also released on Friday morning of a white ute police seized as part of the murder investigation.
"Police are appealing for anyone who saw this vehicle between Sunday and Wednesday to call Leeton Police or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000," a police statement said.
Just after 10am on Friday, three divers stopped in the irrigation canal to take underwater photos and video.
There was no suggestion they had discovered the body of Ms Scott.
A police officer remains on the bank of the irrigation canal, holding an orange line to support the divers in the water.
Up to a dozen members of the Leeton Volunteer Rescue Association are also doing a line search down Griffith Road, not far from the field where Ms Scott's red Mazda was found abandoned on Wednesday morning.
State Emergency Service volunteers are searching a nearby vineyard at Stanbridge. Police were seen placing forensic markers through the vineyard on Thursday, and officers guarded the scene overnight.
As the large-scale search continues, Leeton has rallied to raise money to find Ms Scott's body and bring her home to Mr Leeson-Woolley, who was supposed to marry his partner of five years on Saturday, before 100 friends and family.
Signs have started appearing in local shops with the hashtag #bringstephhome next to jars where people are donating money for the search effort.
Stacey Catlin, 18, is a former student of Ms Scott and struggled to hold back tears as she made coffees behind the counter of Stir Espresso at Leeton on Thursday.
She works for one of the many businesses who have put out a donation jar.
"She was my English teacher and she was a support to me in year 11 and 12. She had a really bubbly personality and would help with anything," she said.
Ms Scott's devastated sisters posted online tributes overnight, at the same time as they should have been preparing to celebrate one of the happiest days of their sister's life.
"You may no longer be here, but the beautiful memory of you will forever live on," her sister, Kim, wrote on Facebook.
"Thank you for 26 unforgettable years Stephanie. Our lives will never be the same without you. xxx"
Kim Scott posted night-time photographs of the wall of floral tributes, candles and yellow balloons that had been placed outside Leeton High School.
Another sister, Robyn, posted a photograph on Facebook of Ms Scott holding a water pistol during a backyard water-fight.
"Always and forever in our hearts. That he can't take away from us. That's ours to keep forever and always," she wrote.
with Megan Levy
