A grainy video filmed from across a field on New Zealand’s rugged west coast is the first ‘credible’ sighting of a father and his three children who vanished years ago.
Tom Phillips, along with daughter Jayda, now 11, son Maverick, 9, and youngest daughter Ember, 8, disappeared from the New Zealand town of Marokopa in December 2021 and were believed to be living in the wilderness.
There have been ‘hundreds’ of sightings of Phillips reported to police since then, many unverified, but none involving the children, with their distraught mother Catherine saying she was incredibly relieved to see all three of her ‘babies’ alive.
The new footage shot on October 3 showed four figures in camouflage gear with heavy backpacks – clearly an adult a few steps ahead of three children – as they walked in single file across rolling hills outside of Marokopa on the North Island.
The video, filmed by pig hunters, was handed to police, prompting a large search of farmland in the area this week which unfortunately failed to turn up any sign of the group.
The children’s mother, who wants to be known only as Catherine, has seen the video.
‘I’m so happy that they’re all there,’ she told the New Zealand Herald.
‘I’m so relieved to see all three of my babies. They’re all alive.’
A father and three kids who have not been seen for three years have been spotted on the west coast of New Zealand (pictured)
Thomas Phillips (pictured) has been on the run for two and a half years and continues to evade authorities
Investigations are ongoing with NZ Police Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders confirming the sighting was being treated as ‘credible’.
‘While nothing further of significance was located, investigators will now assess information gathered to determine any next steps,’ he said.
‘This is the first time all three of the children have been sighted, which is positive information, and we know it will be reassuring for the children’s wider family.’
Before the group’s disappearance the father and his three young children first went missing on September 11, 2021.
Police and emergency services alongside hundreds of volunteers and locals spent days searching for the family after his ute was found below the high tide mark on Kiritehere Beach.
Some 18 days later they returned to the family farm with relatives revealing they had spent the time living in a tent in dense bushland.
However, months later they disappeared again, with the last sighting of the father and his three children on December 9, 2021.
Phillips failed to show up for a court appearance weeks later in January 2022 for a charge of causing wasteful deployment of police personnel and resources, with his absence leading to a warrant for his arrest.
He is since also wanted for questioning since September 2023 regarding an alleged armed robbery of a bank in Te Kuiti near Marokopa.
Saunders at that point urged the public not to approach Phillips. who could be armed.
In June this year an $80,000 reward was offered for two weeks for information that could locate the three children, however, this expired with no result despite more than 40 sighting deemed significant by officers.
He added that police believe he has had help while on the run.
‘Immunity against prosecution will be considered for anyone who has committed an offence in assisting Tom Phillips, if they provide information or evidence which leads to the location and safe return of the children,’ Saunders said in June.
Catherine previously accused Mr Phillips of endangering and depriving the children.
Catherine shared a photo of her and the three children celebrating a birthday for eldest daughter Jayden
‘Ember is asthmatic as am I and she needs medical care that cannot be provided from the land,’ she said.
‘Many of you say that the children are fine and they are being well looked after.
‘How do you know? Have you seen them? Or is it just bush talk?
‘What Thomas is doing is not OK. It is not OK to divide and conquer, to isolate and control.
‘It is child neglect, it is child abandonment, it is child abuse. My babies deserve better.’
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