A nearly four-year manhunt for fugitive Tom Phillips and his three missing children has come to a tragic and dramatic end after Phillips was shot dead by police in a rural New Zealand town.
The incident unfolded following a reported burglary, with authorities confirming one of the children was safely recovered while a desperate search was launched for the other two.
Police have since confirmed that the remaining two children have also been located, uninjured.
The Final Confrontation
The final moments of the search for Phillips began early Monday morning when police were called to a reported burglary at a rural farm supply store in Piopio. Police allege that Phillips, accompanied by one of his children, fled the scene on a quad bike.
A confrontation with responding officers ensued, during which a police officer was critically injured after being shot. A second police unit then arrived and fatally shot Phillips.
The child who was with Phillips was uninjured and has been taken into police custody, where they have been cooperating with authorities.
The Manhunt and Public Concern
Tom Phillips and his three children—Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, now aged 12, 10, and 9, respectively—disappeared in December 2021 after a custody dispute. The case has captivated the nation, with authorities conducting extensive searches and even offering a reward for information.
Over the years, there were a handful of sightings of the family in the rugged Waikato wilderness, but Phillips, who was familiar with the remote terrain, consistently managed to evade capture.
The mystery of how the family survived for so long off-grid led to widespread speculation and concern. The children’s mother, referred to as Cat, expressed “deep relief” that the ordeal for her children had finally ended but also sadness at the tragic outcome.
The Children’s Safe Return
Following the shootout, police launched an urgent and extensive search for the two remaining children who were believed to be in the bush alone. Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers stated that information provided by the child at the scene was crucial in helping police locate the two siblings at a remote campsite, safe and uninjured.
The children have been reunited with family and are receiving medical and psychological support to help them adjust after their nearly four-year ordeal.
This video provides an overview of the dramatic events that led to the end of the manhunt for Tom Phillips.
