After nearly four years of mystery, heartbreak, and unanswered questions, the saga of New Zealand fugitive Tom Phillips and his three children has come to a dramatic and tragic close.
What began as a custody dispute in 2021 turned into a wilderness survival story, and now it has ended in gunfire, grief, and the long-awaited rescue of three young siblings.
Police Confirm Children Found Safe
New Zealand Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed that two of Phillips’ younger children, Maverick (10) and Ember (9), were found safe at a rural campsite late on Monday afternoon.
Their rescue was made possible thanks to information shared by their older sister, 12-year-old Jayda, who had been with her father hours earlier during his final confrontation with police.
A Deadly Shootout in the Early Hours
The chain of events unfolded in the middle of the night when a witness spotted Phillips and Jayda, dressed in farm gear and wearing headlamps, attempting to steal from a farm supply store in Piopio, on New Zealand’s North Island.
Police were called just after 2:30am, and the pair fled on a quad bike.
Road spikes brought them to a halt about 33km away, where a lone officer confronted Phillips.
In the chaos, Phillips fired a high-powered rifle, shooting the officer multiple times, including in the head.
Backup officers soon arrived and shot Phillips dead at the scene, while Jayda was taken safely into custody.
Jayda Helps Lead Police to Siblings
Although shaken, Jayda was unharmed and quickly provided information that proved critical.
Thanks to her guidance, police were able to locate Maverick and Ember later that day.
The children were found alone but safe, and authorities confirmed they are now in the care of medical staff and child protection services.
“They are well and uninjured,” Rogers assured, adding that they will receive medical checks and ongoing support from Oranga Tamariki, the ministry for children.
Officer Fighting for His Life
The police officer injured during the shootout remains in critical condition.
Authorities confirmed he has already undergone the first of several surgeries after suffering multiple gunshot wounds, one of which was to the eye.
He was airlifted to hospital immediately following the incident.
Mixed Emotions Within the Family
Reactions from Phillips’ relatives have been raw and emotional.
His father, Neville, and brother, Ben, lashed out at reporters when approached at the family farm in Marokopa, expressing anger toward the police.
Meanwhile, the children’s mother, Cat, shared a heartfelt statement expressing both relief and sorrow.
She described the safe recovery of her children as the end of an ordeal, saying, “They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years.”
At the same time, she admitted sadness that the situation ended in violence rather than a peaceful resolution.
A Mother’s Gratitude and Plea for Privacy
Cat also extended her love and prayers to the injured police officer and gratitude to the community members who had supported her family through the ordeal.
She emphasized that the children have endured a long and painful journey and now need privacy as they adjust to normal life again.
“As a whānau, we are now attempting to work in cooperation with the relevant government agencies to support the safe return and reconnection of our tamariki,” she said.
Four Years of Life in Hiding
Phillips’ disappearance dates back to December 2021 when he vanished from the rural town of Marokopa with his three children.
Despite nationwide searches and even an $80,000 reward, the family managed to evade authorities while living off the grid.
Over the years, there were sporadic sightings, and police even released CCTV footage earlier this year showing Phillips and one child breaking into a general store.
That footage came just days after Phillips’ wider family spoke publicly for the first time since the disappearance.
A Community Left Reeling
Now, with Phillips dead, his children safe, and a police officer gravely injured, the community of Waikato is left grappling with a complex mix of relief, anger, and grief.
What remains clear is that the three children, who spent nearly four years cut off from their mother and the outside world, will need time, care, and stability to heal from the ordeal.