The mother of the three children taken by their father before vanishing four years ago has broken her silence after he was shot dead by police.
The search for Tom Phillips and his kids, Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, nine, had been ongoing since 2021, with Tom having reportedly had an argument with their mom, Cat, shortly before absconding.
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. That was the first suspected sighting of them in almost a year.
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.
Authorities have not officially named the suspect as Phillips, but his 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.
Following the shock discovery of her children, mom Cat has issued a statement, telling local outlet Mata that she is relieved the ordeal is over for them.
As per RNZ, she said: “First and foremost, we are deeply relieved that for our tamariki (children) this ordeal has come to an end. [The children] have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care.
“At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today. Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved.”
Cat also extended her love to the officer injured in the shootout. He has reportedly undergone the first of several surgeries.
“We also extend our aroha (compassion and love )to those in the community who have been affected, and our heartfelt gratitude to the many people who have supported us over these past four years,” she said, as per BBC. “Your compassion has sustained us.”
“As a whānau (family), we are now attempting to work in cooperation with the relevant government agencies to support the safe return and reconnection of our tamariki.
“They have endured a long and difficult journey, and we ask for privacy as we help them adjust and reintegrate into a stable and loving environment.”
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