The fugitive New Zealand father who disappeared with his three children four years ago has been shot dead by police.
Tom Phillips vanished in 2021, taking his children, Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, nine, with him after reportedly losing a custody battle with the kids’ mother, Cat.
As per Stuff, authorities had long believed that Tom was being helped by locals, none of whom seemed prepared to give him up, even when a now-expired $80,000 reward was on the table.
CCTV footage in August appeared to capture Tom and one of his children in the early hours of the morning in the small town of Piopio, allegedly breaking into a store before driving off on a quad bike.
The previous sighting before that was back 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.
At the time Tom was 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.
In the early hours of this morning (September 8) two police officers responded to an attempted burglary at a farm supply store in Piopio, where they encountered gunfire after approaching one of two quad bikes that spikes had caught on the road.
According to reports, the first officer was shot in the head, leaving them in critical condition. A second officer returned fire, killing the shooter.
Phillips’ sister, Rozzi Phillips, confirmed to local media that the fallen shooter was indeed her fugitive brother.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Jill Rogers supplied that one of the missing children was with him at the time of the gunfight, but was unharmed.
With help from that child, authorities were then able to locate the two other children, who were discovered unharmed at a remote campsite and have been taken for medical checks.
Rogers added that the children were “cooperating” with officials. It is not clear yet whether they are aware of Phillips’ death.
Late last month, Phillips’ family spoke publicly for the first time in four years on the matter of his disappearance, urging him to bring the kids home.
In a handwritten note, Phillips’ mom, Julia, wrote: “Everyday I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home.
“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.
“Jayda, Maverick, Ember – I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.”
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