Family pleads for fugitive returns

In a New Zealand television interview, relatives spoke of their anguish since Tom Phillips disappeared with his three children in late 2021

Family pleads for fugitive father to return with his children

Tom Phillips vanished with his three children Ember now 9 Maverick 10 and Jayda 12 in late 2021 after a custody dispute. He is believed to be hiding in the Waikato wilderness where the family says they are living off the land. Phillips did not have legal custody of the children and has not been seen publicly for years. The family spoke in a television interview for the first time expressing their longing to see him and the children safe. Police have described the search as difficult because of the remote terrain and the fact that Phillips avoids mainstream channels. Earlier in 2021 the family was briefly reunited after a separate disappearance that led to a court appearance for wasting police time. Sightings of the four have been rare since then, even as a substantial reward was offered and the case drew public attention. In October 2024 a video surfaced showing an adult with three children near Marokopa, but investigators failed to locate them after follow up checks. Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said police remain open to negotiations with Phillips or anyone who might be helping him and urged a safe resolution for the children.

The interview exposes a stark tension between family pain and the need for accountability. A long running pursuit in a remote region tests public patience and police resources while keeping the focus on the welfare of the children. The family frames the story as one of love and longing, which can shape public sentiment in ways that complicate police strategy. At the same time the case raises questions about how communities respond when someone avoids the normal channels of work and finance. The police position of openness to negotiation signals a preference for a peaceful endgame that centers on the children rather than punishment alone. The narrative also illustrates how local geography can become a character in the case, turning a quiet rural region into a stage for scrutiny of law enforcement and family dynamics.

Highlights

The search for resolution continues as the family holds on to hope.