Four years ago a father took his three children and disappeared into the New Zealand wilderness, vanishing without warning or trace.
The nationwide search for Tom Phillips and his kids, Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, nine, has been ongoing since 2021, with Tom having reportedly had an argument with their mom, Cat, shortly before absconding.
The last recorded sighting of the family was October 3 last year, when a group of teenager pig hunters claim to have spotted Tom and his kids hiking through the bush.
Mom Cat declared herself “grateful” for the teens for making the recording at the time, describing it as feeling as though Christmas had come early.
The heartbroken mom-of-three also accused her former partner of treating their kids like “just pawns in this game”, adding that he’s trying to “teach [her] a lesson.”
According to the BBC, Tom’s family have now broken a silence lasting four years, issuing a plea aimed at convincing him to bring the children home.
“Everyday I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home,” Tom’s mom Julia penned in a handwritten note.
“Tom – I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this. Not considering how much we love you and can support you. It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here.”
She continued: “Jayda, Maverick, Ember – I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.”
Tom’s sister, Rozzi Philipps, told New Zealand new site Stuff: “There’s a lot of love and there’s a lot of support, and we’re ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through.”
“I miss you, and I miss being part of your life, and I really want to see you and the kids and be part of your lives again.”
Rozzi described her brother as a capable builder, stating her belief that he might have constructed some sort of “nest” in the bus that would adequately shelter his family as they negotiate the wild.
Authorities have affirmed their opinion that Tom fled with his kids after losing a custody battle to their mom. As per Stuff, they have long maintained that he is being helped by locals, none of whom seem prepared to give him up, even when a now-expired $80,000 reward was on the table.
As previously mentioned, the last sighting of Tom and the kids was in October, 2024, when a group of 16-year-olds close to a coastal farm – 4km north of the town of Marokopa – saw four figures dressed in camouflage and carrying large backpacks crossing the farmland.
One of the teenagers spoke to the family, with Jayda, the eldest of the children, supposedly having responded.
The boy recalled: “I said ‘this is private property’, and she was like, ‘yeah … duh’. Then I asked, ‘does anyone know you’re on here’ and she said ‘no, just you guys’.”
At the time Tom is said to have been holding a gun. He turned around, but didn’t speak, with the teenage pig hunters describing him as having a large beard with a grey tip.
Tom, it’s said, is an experienced bushman who is comfortable living off the grid.
READ MORE
- “Devoted” dad-to-be dies after sand dune collapses on him at beach – as kids watch on
- Dad killed in explosion with two daughters at Biofuel Plant – haunting last phone call to his wife
