A father who disappeared with his three children almost four years ago was shot and killed by police in New Zealand this week. Tom Phillips had been hiding in the wilderness with his kids since December 2021. The dramatic case ended when police found Phillips and his 12-year-old daughter on a stolen quad bike after they robbed a farm store.
When police tried to stop them with spike strips, Phillips shot a police officer in the head. The officer is in critical condition. Other police officers then shot and killed Phillips. His daughter was not hurt. Police later found Phillips’ two other children, ages 9 and 10, hiding at a campsite in the woods.
The three children — Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9 — are now safe and in the care of authorities. They have not seen their mother in nearly four years. The case shocked New Zealand and divided public opinion about whether Phillips was a hero or a criminal.
Police Photos Show Where the Family Lived in the Woods
This wasn’t the first time Phillips disappeared with his kids. In September 2021, his truck was found empty on a beach. Police thought the family might have drowned in the ocean. But after 17 days, Phillips and the children came out of the forest. He said they had just been camping.
Police charged Phillips with wasting police resources due to the high cost of the search. He was supposed to go to court in December 2021. Instead, he disappeared again with his three children the night before his court date.
Phillips didn’t have legal custody of his children when he took them. That made it kidnapping under New Zealand law. His ex-wife, Cat, had custody of the kids. She hadn’t seen them since Phillips took them away.
Simple Shelter Made from Tree Branches and Plastic Tarps
The family built a basic shelter using tree branches and covered it with plastic tarps to stay dry. This shows how Phillips used his outdoor survival skills to keep his family alive in the wild.
Finding the children this week was dramatic and dangerous. After Phillips was killed, his 12-year-old daughter, Jayda, helped police find where her younger brother and sister were hiding. She told police there were guns at the campsite. She also helped police figure out how to talk to the younger kids so they wouldn’t be scared.
When police got to the campsite, they found 10-year-old Maverick holding a rifle. Police negotiators had to talk to the boy to get him to put the gun down safely. “There was a negotiation with the children, and they came out,” said Detective Andrew Saunders.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said the negotiators were “very highly trained.” He also praised Jayda for being “very, very helpful” in getting her siblings to safety. Police kept Jayda nearby but far enough away to keep her safe during the rescue.
Basic Supplies: Gas Tanks, Water Bottles, and Cooking Gear
How did a father and three young children survive in New Zealand’s harsh wilderness for almost four years? The country gets very cold in winter, and the forest areas where they hid are remote and dangerous. Phillips had outdoor survival skills, but police believe he had help from other people.
“Beyond the burglaries we can link to Tom, it’s clear he had outside help,” Detective Saunders said. Police are now trying to find anyone who helped Phillips and his children hide from authorities.
During their time as fugitives, Phillips committed several crimes. In 2023, he robbed a bank at gunpoint. One of his children was with him during the robbery. He also shot at a member of the public while escaping. Security cameras caught Phillips breaking into businesses to steal supplies. The most recent break-in was just last month.
Tom Phillips’ Quad Bike Loaded with Animal Food
The four-wheeler that Phillips was riding when he was killed was packed with animal feed. This suggests the family might have been feeding animals or using the food as part of their survival plan.
The case split public opinion in New Zealand. Some people saw Phillips as a father trying to protect his children. Others saw him as a criminal who put kids in danger. Phillips found supporters online and in his hometown of Marokopa. Some residents told reporters they supported what he did.
Police Commissioner Chambers strongly disagreed with people who called Phillips a hero. “I can tell you he is no hero,” Chambers said. “No one who does this to children, no one who shoots high-powered rifles at my officers, is a hero.”
Police offered an $80,000 reward for information about Phillips and his children. But no one turned them in during the almost four years they were missing. This suggests Phillips had friends or family helping him hide.
The campsite where police finally found the younger children was likely a temporary one. It was in an area that police had already searched before. “We’ve likely been very close,” Commissioner Chambers said. “If not right there.”
Cat Phillips, the children’s mother, made a public statement after learning her children were safe. She expressed relief but also sadness about how the situation ended with their father’s death.
The three children are now getting help from social workers and counsellors. They haven’t been reunited with their mother yet. Officials want to make sure the kids get proper care after their traumatic experience.
“There’s a careful plan to make sure the children get on a strong and healthy path to recovery,” said Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “They have seen and experienced things that children in our country should not have to see. It’s very complicated.”
A judge issued an order preventing police and news reporters from sharing specific details about the case. This is to protect the children’s privacy as they recover from their ordeal.
The children’s mother, Cat, spoke publicly for the first time since the ordeal ended. “They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years,” she said. “We are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care.”
She also expressed sadness about how everything ended. “We are saddened by how events unfolded today,” Cat said. “Our hope has always been that the children could be returned peacefully and safely for everyone involved.”
What Happens Next for the Phillips Children
The three Phillips children now face the difficult task of adjusting to everyday life after spending their childhood hiding in the wilderness. Mental health experts say children who experience trauma like this need special care and support.
The kids will need time to understand what happened to them and why their father kept them away from their mother and the rest of their family. They missed almost four years of school, everyday childhood experiences, and contact with the outside world.
Authorities are also investigating everyone who might have helped Phillips during his time as a fugitive. Police believe several people knew where the family was hiding and provided them with food, supplies, or other assistance.
The case raises important questions about child custody disputes and what happens when parents break the law to keep their children. It also shows how one person’s actions can affect an entire community and divide public opinion.
For now, the focus is on helping Jayda, Maverick, and Ember heal from their experience and begin the process of rebuilding their lives. After nearly four years of uncertainty, they are finally safe and will soon be reunited with their mother and the family members who never stopped looking for them.
The story of the Phillips family will likely be remembered as one of New Zealand’s most unusual and tragic missing persons cases. It shows both the lengths some parents will go to keep their children and the dedication of law enforcement to bring missing kids home safely.
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