The tumultuous journey of Tom Phillips and his three children began on September 11, 2021, when they first vanished from their home in New Zealand, sparking a police search that included land, sea, and air operations. Despite their return weeks later, claiming to have been on a camping trip, they would go missing again just months later.
On December 12, 2021, following the family's second disappearance, a years-long manhunt ensued, filled with limited sightings and uncertainty. Tom Phillips' life came to a tragic conclusion just a few days ago when he was shot and killed by police during an attempted burglary investigation. This incident brought to an end a search that had captivated New Zealand.
Questions loom regarding why Phillips took his children—aged five, seven, and eight at the time—and whether he acted alone during their hideouts in the unforgiving terrain of the New Zealand wilderness. Authorities believe the motivations may stem from a custody dispute with their mother.
After returning home in 2021, Phillips was charged with wasting police resources due to the costly nature of the search operations, yet investigators couldn't find concrete evidence about where he had taken the kids following his initial return. This included ignoring court appearances, leading to a warrant for his arrest in early 2022.
His ability to evade capture for extended periods led police to suspect he had assistance from others within the community. Despite an NZ$80,000 reward for information, leads remained scarce until sightings began emerging in 2023, showcasing a desperate father attempting to sustain his children under precarious conditions.
Following another brief encounter captured on video in late 2023 by pig hunters, an extensive search failed to uncover the whereabouts of Phillips and his children. It wasn’t until early 2025 that Phillips, alongside one child, was spotted allegedly looting a store, ultimately culminating in the fatal police confrontation.
The shootout resulted in injuries to responding officers and the successful recovery of the remaining children, now aged nine, ten, and twelve, who were found safe at a remote campsite and are currently under governmental care.
