New Zealand - Tom Phillips, 34, & his 3 children, poss in remote bushland, Marokopa, Dec'21 (prev 11 Sep 2021 *dad charged*)

[StillDiggin]

New images of missing dad Tom Phillips' disguise released

Police have released new images of missing Marokopa dad Tom Phillips, saying there has been three confirmed sightings across the wider Waikato area.

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[vls12345]

Missing Marokopa family: Stolen ute found, Tom Phillips and kids still missing

Police say the stolen ute was found just off Marokopa Rd in Te Anga.

www.nzherald.co.nz

“Some piece of s*** stole our ute today while we were at work. Please keep an eye out!” wrote the irate owner on Facebook."

and

"Waikato locals said a group chased Phillips in the stolen ute, before losing him near the Kawhia lookout on State Highway 31 on Wednesday night."

 

[StillDiggin]

Police looking for four dirtbikes in search for Tom Phillips

Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen the bikes.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[StillDiggin]

'Any information could be the key': Police rely on public in search for Marokopa family

Phillips was spotted four times last Wednesday, reinvigorating search efforts.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Are they saying that the dirtbikes were stolen ?

 

[Kemug]

I've only just happened upon this weird story. And oh my gosh. While I'm sure the father loves his children, he is certainly not going about it in the right way. With his criminal activities, and the isolation of his children, he is not only likely causing them lasting social and educational harm, but possibly also putting them in actual physical danger. He needs to stop loving them so selfishly, and start putting their needs and safety ahead of himself.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Inspector Will Loughrin said police were now going door-to-door in coastal Marokopa and Kiritehere, as well as further inland in Te Anga and Pomarangai.

"Any areas they may have been where it looks like there's been a camp set up, food left behind, as well as things like bike trails or areas that people might have been that appear really unusual or off the beaten track - we want to hear about all of that.

"We want to hear about any animals that could be missing such as sheep from their farm. We're looking for any key bits of information that may be that little piece in the puzzle we need."

Police are still on the hunt for four bikes connected to the case: a Honda 50cc motocross bike, black Suzuki 200cc Trojan, Honda XR 200cc and a Honda 2008 FourTrax Quad. But Loughrin stopped short of saying these vehicles were stolen.

"That's part of the investigation. We're working through how Tom may have come into possession of those bikes."

https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/08/11/marokopa-resident-believes-someone-housing-runaway-tom-phillips/

 

[StillDiggin]

The father of the missing Marokopa family may have set up a campsite with supplies bought from two Bunnings stores, police say.

New details emerged on Tuesday night that Tom Phillips brought headlamps, batteries, seedlings, buckets and gumboots on August 2, using a large amount of cash.

Police have been searching for Phillips and his children Jayda, 10, Maverick, 8, and Ember, 7, since family reported them missing from their home on Waikato’s west coast, on January 18, 2022.

Father of missing Marokopa family spotted at Bunnings buying camping items

Police suspect Tom Phillips bought headlamps, batteries, seedlings and buckets to set up a campsite.

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[StillDiggin]

If this doesn’t get any more crazier

Arrest warrant issued for missing Marokopa dad Tom Phillips over alleged bank robbery

Tom Phillips has been charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawfully possessing a firearm.

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[threesevenninefour]

Who is this 2nd person he allegedly robbed the bank with? And there’s now been 4 different sightings of him in the past few months without the kids?! I was already concerned for their safety but now I’m getting even more worried…

 

[tazza]

Who is this 2nd person he allegedly robbed the bank with? And there’s now been 4 different sightings of him in the past few months without the kids?! I was already concerned for their safety but now I’m getting even more worried…

Wondering the same thing. The person on the back of the bike looks smaller... if it's him in front, could that be his eldest child in the back? Probably not, since they still look too big to be an actual child. :/

 

[Kaykedi]

Wondering the same thing. The person on the back of the bike looks smaller... if it's him in front, could that be his eldest child in the back? Probably not, since they still look too big to be an actual child. :/

Is there a beard on the passenger? Maybe glasses too

 

[vls12345]

Is there a beard on the passenger? Maybe glasses too

I wondered about a beard too. But, maybe it could be a face mask or neck gaiter pulled up?

 

[Kaykedi]

I wondered about a beard too. But, maybe it could be a face mask or neck gaiter pulled up?

Good thinking

 

[LadyL]

Wondering the same thing. The person on the back of the bike looks smaller... if it's him in front, could that be his eldest child in the back? Probably not, since they still look too big to be an actual child. :/

I'm going with that's his eldest child. Poor kids.

 

[StillDiggin]

The Marokopa mystery: What we know about Tom Phillips and his missing kids

The long search for Tom Phillips has taken another strange turn.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[sapphire blue]

I'm going with that's his eldest child. Poor kids.

Eldest child is 10, I doubt the person on the bike is that child.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Police follow 14 leads, but Waikato fugitive and his children still missing

Police have investigated 14 reported sightings of Waikato fugitive Tom Phillips in the past month.

www.rnz.co.nz

Police have investigated 14 reported sightings of Waikato fugitive Tom Phillips in the past month.

The Marokopa man, who disappeared with his three children in December 2021, continues to evade police.

Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said police had followed up 14 reports since 5 September with no success.

He asked people around Waikato to come forward with any further information or potential sightings.

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Anyone who sees Phillips is advised not to take action themselves and should call 111, or 105 for non-urgent calls.

Police have set up a dedicated email address for people to report information on the case - op.curly@police.govt.nz

 

[Unalienable Rights]

CCTV footage is included with the article. He stole a quad bike on Nov 2. Later that night -- at 2 a.m. -- he smashed the window of a shop and tried to break in with one of the children. A shop owner says he spray painted the security cameras in the area. They ran when the alarm went off. Details are in the linked article.

Fugitive Marokopa man in Piopio: Dad and child steal quad bike, smash storefront at 2am

Phillips and masked child caught on security footage in Piopio.

www.nzherald.co.nz

*****************************************************
The following article gives a very detailed account, with pictures, of all of the sightings this year.

Missing Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips: All the sightings and what we know

Phillips and kids Jayda, 9, Maverick, 8, Ember, 6, first went missing in September 2021.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Unalienable Rights]

This is a bit of new information.

Revealed: Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips believed to have fathered another child before vanishing

A police source has confirmed they know who the woman is - and they've spoken to her.

www.newshub.co.nz

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Newshub has learned a former girlfriend of Phillips, who police believe he had a baby with prior to disappearing, has been helping with the investigation.

It's understood she gave birth to a little boy about two years ago. A police source has confirmed they know who this woman is, and have spoken with her several times as part of routine inquiries.

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