Grainy video filmed from a field on New Zealand’s rugged west coast is the first “credible” sighting of a father and his three children who went missing years ago.
Tom Phillips, along with his daughter Jayda, now 11, his son Maverick, 9, and his youngest daughter Ember, 8, disappeared from the New Zealand town of Marokopa in December 2021 and were believed to be living in the desert
There have been “hundreds” of Phillips sightings reported to police since then, many of them unverified, but none involving the children, and his distraught mother, Catherine, said she was incredibly relieved to see her three “babies.” alive.
New footage filmed on October 3 showed four figures dressed in camouflage and carrying heavy backpacks (clearly an adult a few steps ahead of three children) as they walked single file through hills outside Marokopa on the North Island .
The video, filmed by pig hunters, was handed over to police, prompting a major search of farmland in the area this week, which sadly failed to find any sign of the group.
The children’s mother, who wants to be known only as Catherine, saw the video.
“I’m very happy they’re all there,” he told the New Zealand Herald.
‘I feel very relieved to see my three babies. They are all alive.
A father and his three children who had not been seen for three years were spotted on the west coast of New Zealand (pictured)
Thomas Phillips (pictured) has been on the run for two and a half years and continues to evade authorities.
Investigations are ongoing and New Zealand Police Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders confirms the sighting has been treated as “credible”.
“Although nothing more significant was located, investigators will now evaluate the information collected to determine next steps,” he said.
“This is the first time all three children have been seen, which is positive information and we know it will be reassuring for the children’s entire family.”
Prior to the group’s disappearance, the father and his three young children first disappeared on September 11, 2021.
Police and emergency services, along with hundreds of volunteers and locals, spent days searching for the family after their vehicle was found below the high tide mark on Kiritehere beach.
About 18 days later they returned to the family farm and their relatives revealed that they had spent the time living in a tent in dense bush.
However, months later they disappeared again, with the last sighting of the father and his three children being on December 9, 2021.
Phillips failed to appear for a court appearance weeks later in January 2022, accused of causing a waste of police personnel and resources, and his absence resulted in a warrant for his arrest.
Since September 2023 he has also been wanted for questioning in connection with an alleged armed robbery of a bank in Te Kuiti, near Marokopa.
At the time, Saunders urged the public not to approach Phillips. who could be armed.
In June of this year, a reward of $80,000 for two weeks was offered for information that could locate the three children; However, the reward expired without result despite more than 40 sightings considered significant by agents.
He added that police believe he received help while fleeing.
“Immunity from prosecution will be considered for anyone found to have committed a crime by assisting Tom Phillips, if they provide information or evidence leading to the location and safe return of the children,” Saunders said in June.
Catherine previously accused Mr Phillips of child endangerment and deprivation.
Catherine shared a photo of herself and the three children celebrating her eldest daughter Jayden’s birthday.
“Ember is asthmatic like me and needs medical care that cannot be provided from Earth,” he said.
‘Many of you say that the children are well and that they are well cared for.
‘How do you know? Have you seen them? Or is it just quackery?
‘What Thomas is doing is not right. It is not okay to divide and conquer, isolate and control.
‘It’s child neglect, it’s child abandonment, it’s child abuse. My babies deserve better.’