the essential
Three years after their disappearance following a marital dispute, a father and his three children were spotted by a hunter in camouflage in a bush area near Marokopa, on the North Island of New Zealand. But the authorities have lost track of them again…
A father familyTom Phillips, and his three children, Jayda (11 years old), Maverick (9 years old) and Ember (8 years old), missing since December 2021, were spotted in a bush area near Marokopa, on the island of Northern New Zealand. Authorities confirmed that a “credible sighting” was made by a 16-year-old hunter, reviving hopes of finding them.
Spotted in camouflage
The four people were seen wearing camouflage gear and carrying large camping backpacks, while walking in a rural area. According to local media, Phillips, a fugitive for almost three years, was also seen with a gun.
The alert was raised after the group was spotted from a distance, but despite a massive police search, including a military helicopter, they remained untraceable. Since their disappearance, several sightings have been reported, but so far all attempts at locating them have failed.
A mysterious disappearance since 2021
The disappearance of Tom Phillips and his children dates back to December 2021, when following a domestic dispute, Phillips took his children to an “undisclosed location.” Since then, there have been numerous reports, including one in November 2023 where a man, believed to be Phillips, was caught on CCTV stealing a quad bike in a rural area. Police also suspect him of being involved in an armed robbery at a bank in Te Kuiti in May 2023, which led to a warrant being issued for his arrest. Last June, New Zealand police had proposThere is a reward of $80,000 for any information leading to their trace.
A mother torn between hope and frustration
The children’s mother, Cat, expressed mixed feelings about the recent sighting. While she said she was “delighted” to learn that her children were alive, she did not hide her frustration at the slow response from the authorities. “It’s been almost three years… It felt like Christmas came early and I really thought they would come home this time,” she told New Zealand Herald.
She also criticized the authorities’ lack of responsiveness, saying that “more efforts should have been made immediately” to find her children and their father.
Efforts continue
New Zealand police remain committed to locating Tom Phillips and his children. Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said: “Our priority is the safe return of Jayda, Maverick and Ember to their families, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this. »
He added that law enforcement has the resources to respond to any new information or sightings regarding the group. However, the mystery remains around this disappearance.
