Shocking end for Dad who vanished with kids exposed.
A father who disappeared into New Zealand’s rugged wilderness with his three children has been killed by police early this morning.
The initial flight profiled.
Tom Phillips, 38, and his kids—Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9—vanished in September 2021, sparking an international manhunt.
The family’s disappearance gripped headlines worldwide, leaving communities puzzled and police chasing leads across North Island.
Phillips first fled the Marakopa area with his children, appearing months later at his parents’ farmhouse, drawing attention for wasting police resources.
After facing charges for wasting police time, Phillips vanished again before a scheduled court appearance, prompting a nationwide arrest warrant.
Over the years, numerous sightings were reported, including some captured on CCTV in August, though none led to a breakthrough—until now.
Authorities later confirmed the footage showed Phillips outside a small farm supply shop in Piopio on 26 August.
Flight motivations unraveled.
Phillips’ flight into the wilderness reportedly began after years of domestic disputes and fear of losing custody.
He and the children survived in dense bushlands, avoiding towns and leaving minimal trace, relying on local streams and forest food.
Neighbors described Phillips as highly skilled in survival, able to live off-grid for months, frustrating police attempts to locate them.
Sightings over the years showed the family near rivers and remote trails, sometimes spotted by hikers before disappearing again.
Cat, the children’s mother, struggled publicly to locate her kids, appealing for community help while fearing for their safety.
Local residents frequently reported potential sightings, though many turned out to be false leads, prolonging the manhunt.
Investigators admitted the terrain and Phillips’ careful planning made it “one of the most challenging cases” in the region’s history.
The confrontation disclosed.
Police responded to an alarm at the commercial property for an attempted robbery just before dawn, triggering the final confrontation.
Officers deployed spike strips to stop two quad bikes linked to the incident, escalating tensions at the remote property.
Shots were fired at police; one officer was hit in the head but survived in critical condition.
A second officer returned fire, fatally wounding Phillips at the scene, ending the four-year manhunt.
Though police did not officially name Phillips, his sister later confirmed the deceased was her brother.
One of Phillips’ children was at the property during the shooting and remained unharmed.
The search for the remaining children highlighted.
Police initially had no idea where the remaining two children were, launching a tense search across the surrounding wilderness.
After seven hours, officers found the two missing children at a secluded bush campsite.
The child present at the shooting helped guide authorities toward the other two siblings’ location.
According to the BBC, the two children at the campsite were cooperative and unharmed.
Police informed the mother, Cat, and Phillips’ parents of the children’s discovery, though it is unclear if they know of Phillips’ death.
Authorities confirmed all three children were unharmed after the deadly confrontation.
Community and official response confirmed.
Jill Rogers praised Piopio locals for crucial information, calling the tight-knit rural communities’ support “invaluable.”
District Mayor John Robertson described the case as “tragic, frantic, and shocking,” emphasizing the ongoing concern for the children’s future.
Cat Phillips issued a statement, expressing relief at the children’s safety while mourning the chaos surrounding their father’s death.
The manhunt finally ends.
The deadly standoff finally concluded a near four-year saga that captivated New Zealand and international media alike.
The case leaves lasting questions about parental flight, survival, and the psychological toll on children hidden in wilderness for years.
Authorities confirm the children will receive care and protection services while investigating the final events, marking an end to one of the country’s most gripping manhunts.