New Zealand police have confirmed the safe recovery of the last two missing children of Tom Phillips, marking the end of a nearly four-year search.
The children had been living off-grid with their father, who was fatally shot by police earlier this week near Waitomo.
Authorities said the children were discovered around 4:30 p.m. local time on Monday, September 8, approximately two kilometers from the scene of the deadly confrontation.
“Specialist Police officers conducting a search within bush near Waitomo located the outstanding children of Tom Phillips. I’m pleased to say they are unharmed and are now safe,” said Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers.
She continued, “…While they are safe, this is the start of a long journey of recovery and their welfare remains our top priority. For that reason, we will not be going into details about where they are now or their mental state.”
In a press briefing held Monday, Rogers stated that the children were found alone at a remote campsite and were subsequently relocated for medical assessment, according to reporting by New Zealand outlet Stuff.
Tom Phillips had vanished in 2021 with his three children — Jayda, Maverick, and Ember — following an alleged custody dispute with their mother. At the time of his disappearance, Phillips did not have legal custody of the children. Since then, the family had reportedly been living in isolation, avoiding detection.
Despite extensive investigations and multiple reported sightings over the years, the children remained missing until this week.
Phillips was shot and killed by police responding to a suspected break-in at a farm supply store in Piopio, located in the western Waikato district where he had long been suspected of hiding.
One of the three children was reportedly present during the incident and was immediately taken into police care. Rogers noted that the child “provided information [to police] that has been crucial in narrowing our search.”
While in hiding, Phillips was believed to have committed several crimes, including a robbery in the Waikato region. Two weeks before the fatal encounter, police released CCTV footage appearing to show him breaking into a Piopio business alongside one of his children.
