The emotional appeal comes as authorities continue their search for the father, believed to be evading the law in the North Island's rugged terrain.
**New Zealand Fugitive Family Pleads for Father's Return Amid Ongoing Search**
**New Zealand Fugitive Family Pleads for Father's Return Amid Ongoing Search**
The family of Tom Phillips, who vanished with his three children into New Zealand's wilderness over three years ago, is making a heartfelt plea for their safe return.
New Zealand's wilderness continues to harbor a fugitive father and his three children as the search for Tom Phillips extends into its fourth year. Phillips, who disappeared with his children—Ember, nine, Maverick, ten, and Jayda, twelve—following a dispute with their mother in December 2021, remains on the run despite being spotted in public for the first time last October.
His family has come forward with a heartfelt message, expressing their desperation for his return. "Everyday I wake up hoping that today will be the day that you all come home," Phillips' mother shared in a heartfelt appeal. His sister, Rozzi Phillips, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing their readiness to support him and the children upon their return. "I miss being part of your life, and I really want to see you and the kids again," she told a local news outlet.
It is believed that Tom Phillips, a skilled builder, has been camping in isolation in New Zealand's western Waikato region, with authorities offering an NZ$80,000 reward for information. His family was sighted last year when a group of teenagers encountered them in Marokopa, filming the moment where Phillips was seen leading his children in camouflaged attire, reportedly while armed.
Despite the credible sighting triggering a police and army search, both Phillips and his children remain elusive. Authorities issued a warrant for Phillips' arrest for his suspected role in a bank robbery, cautioning the public against approaching him as it is believed he may have assistance in avoiding capture. The ongoing efforts to find Phillips illustrate the complex dynamics of family ties and legal responsibilities, leaving the future uncertain for everyone involved.
His family has come forward with a heartfelt message, expressing their desperation for his return. "Everyday I wake up hoping that today will be the day that you all come home," Phillips' mother shared in a heartfelt appeal. His sister, Rozzi Phillips, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing their readiness to support him and the children upon their return. "I miss being part of your life, and I really want to see you and the kids again," she told a local news outlet.
It is believed that Tom Phillips, a skilled builder, has been camping in isolation in New Zealand's western Waikato region, with authorities offering an NZ$80,000 reward for information. His family was sighted last year when a group of teenagers encountered them in Marokopa, filming the moment where Phillips was seen leading his children in camouflaged attire, reportedly while armed.
Despite the credible sighting triggering a police and army search, both Phillips and his children remain elusive. Authorities issued a warrant for Phillips' arrest for his suspected role in a bank robbery, cautioning the public against approaching him as it is believed he may have assistance in avoiding capture. The ongoing efforts to find Phillips illustrate the complex dynamics of family ties and legal responsibilities, leaving the future uncertain for everyone involved.
