Police have released the first images of what they believe is one of many campsites where a New Zealand father on the run hid with his three children for years. Two of Tom Phillips' children were found at the site in the Waikato region on Monday, hours after he was killed in a shootout with the police. Police found them with the help of the third child, who was with Phillips when he died. They said the children are 'doing well', but will take time to recover from the ordeal.
Shortly before Christmas in 2021, Phillips disappeared with his children – Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, then aged eight, seven, and five respectively. Police believe he did so after losing legal custody of them.
Phillips had 'no regard' for the children's safety and 'quite literally put [them] in harm's way', Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told the media on Tuesday, adding that they are now in the care of authorities. A stash of firearms and ammunition were also found at the campsite, which is surrounded by dense vegetation. Two quad bikes are pictured parked among trees.
By the time authorities arrived at the site, the search for the two children had been underway for nearly 12 hours. In the early hours of Monday, police responded to a report of an attempted burglary at a rural farm supply shop in the small town of Piopio. And that is where they entered into a shootout with Mr. Phillips. An officer was seriously injured after Phillips fired at him with a high-powered rifle. Mr. Chambers said police have 'absolutely no doubt' it was intended to kill the officer.
The injured officer has undergone a series of surgeries but still has a long road to recovery ahead of him, Mr. Chambers said. Phillips' case has gripped New Zealand since the day he became a fugitive nearly four years ago, and while Monday's events suggest the mystery has come to a close, police are still seeking answers about how Phillips evaded capture for so long and acquired firearms. Authorities have not addressed questions about the children's mother and their family connections. Police Minister Mark Mitchell emphasized the need for a careful plan to ensure that the children receive the assistance they require.
On Monday, the children's mother expressed relief that 'this ordeal has come to an end' after nearly four years of missing her children, though she expressed her sadness over the events that unfolded.
Shortly before Christmas in 2021, Phillips disappeared with his children – Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, then aged eight, seven, and five respectively. Police believe he did so after losing legal custody of them.
Phillips had 'no regard' for the children's safety and 'quite literally put [them] in harm's way', Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told the media on Tuesday, adding that they are now in the care of authorities. A stash of firearms and ammunition were also found at the campsite, which is surrounded by dense vegetation. Two quad bikes are pictured parked among trees.
By the time authorities arrived at the site, the search for the two children had been underway for nearly 12 hours. In the early hours of Monday, police responded to a report of an attempted burglary at a rural farm supply shop in the small town of Piopio. And that is where they entered into a shootout with Mr. Phillips. An officer was seriously injured after Phillips fired at him with a high-powered rifle. Mr. Chambers said police have 'absolutely no doubt' it was intended to kill the officer.
The injured officer has undergone a series of surgeries but still has a long road to recovery ahead of him, Mr. Chambers said. Phillips' case has gripped New Zealand since the day he became a fugitive nearly four years ago, and while Monday's events suggest the mystery has come to a close, police are still seeking answers about how Phillips evaded capture for so long and acquired firearms. Authorities have not addressed questions about the children's mother and their family connections. Police Minister Mark Mitchell emphasized the need for a careful plan to ensure that the children receive the assistance they require.
On Monday, the children's mother expressed relief that 'this ordeal has come to an end' after nearly four years of missing her children, though she expressed her sadness over the events that unfolded.
