Marokopa family 'missing' again: Friend says Tom Phillips and his children going bush 'normal' - NZ Herald
Not necessarily cause for alarm, but still noteworthy.
Not necessarily cause for alarm, but still noteworthy.
Found Safe New Zealand - Tom Phillips, 34, shot/deceased; his 3 children who were with him found alive
- Thread starter Goldilox
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Dang. Does this guy not know the story about the boy who cried wolf?
Scrapper18
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Question - is family reporting him missing because he is keeping kids from a court ordered visitation with their mom? If not, why do they expect him to keep them updated on his plans? Yes, it is the responsible thing to do. But, he is an adult and can go camping, with his kids, at his discretion. I’m just curious if there is an overstep of boundaries occurring. JMO/MOO
I definitely get the feeling there's a custodial battle or at least court ordered visitation rights in the mix here. Absolutely he can take his children on a camping trip during the Christmas holidays if he sees fit.
Before it was a concern because of the abandoned vehicle submerged in the ocean and it was during the school semester (you can't just take kids out of state or private school without notice, and you can't homeschool unless you are registered and jump through some hoops to prove you are adequately educating them).
One has to wonder why he doesn't keep relatives apprised, though. What if something went wrong, where would they look for them?
Before it was a concern because of the abandoned vehicle submerged in the ocean and it was during the school semester (you can't just take kids out of state or private school without notice, and you can't homeschool unless you are registered and jump through some hoops to prove you are adequately educating them).
One has to wonder why he doesn't keep relatives apprised, though. What if something went wrong, where would they look for them?
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Missing again
www.nzherald.co.nz
Police conduct air search for missing Marokopa family
Tom Phillips and his three children have been missing since December 2021.
I can't believe it!!
These poor children are missing again. I truly think that there's something very off with the father to keep doing this. I hope they are found safe and well. The rest of the family must be beside themselves.
Police investigating two separate sightings of missing Marokopa children and their father
'Desperate to get our babies home': Public search for missing Marokopa kids and dad put on hold
Can we please move this case back to the missing section?
These poor children are missing again. I truly think that there's something very off with the father to keep doing this. I hope they are found safe and well. The rest of the family must be beside themselves.
Police investigating two separate sightings of missing Marokopa children and their father
'Desperate to get our babies home': Public search for missing Marokopa kids and dad put on hold
Can we please move this case back to the missing section?
From the article: "Phillips made a brief visit to a family member in early February to top up supplies. The children have not been seen."Missing again
Police conduct air search for missing Marokopa family
Tom Phillips and his three children have been missing since December 2021.
It does sound as if the father is deliberately in hiding with the kids. I wonder if their last adventure threatened the dad's custody.
asmi106082
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It certainly seems that it should have. MOO
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Does anyone have information about the mother? Why have they been separated for 4 years but never divorced? Is there some reason why he feels they are not safe around her?
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From your first link -
‘It's almost six months since Jayda, Maverick, and Ember disappeared for a second time with their father.
They haven't been seen since.’
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Marokopa mystery: 'Beside ourselves with worry' - mum's plea for missing kids. The children's mother has issued a public plea for anyone who knew where Tom and the kids were to contact police as soon as possible.
Newshub reported yesterday police had received information on two possible sighting in past weeks - including a possible sighting of the children in a vehicle with a female known to the family.
A second possible sighting was of someone who resembled Phillips arriving on a four-wheeler at a local farm around two weeks ago, Newshub reported.
Newshub reported yesterday police had received information on two possible sighting in past weeks - including a possible sighting of the children in a vehicle with a female known to the family.
A second possible sighting was of someone who resembled Phillips arriving on a four-wheeler at a local farm around two weeks ago, Newshub reported.
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Siblings of missing Marokopa kids organise their own search. The older sister of the three missing children, who wanted to remain anonymous told Stuff, they would try to rule out some areas of interest, but hoped the children would be found.
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Dang they are missing so long this time I hope the children are ok
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"Despite a number of land and air searches, and regular discussions with community members who spend time in Marokopa's extensive bush area, we have not located any signs of the family," says Waikato West Area Commander Inspector Will Loughrin.
"When Tom Phillips was last seen by family in February, he had a beard and that alone will make him look considerably different than in the photos we have circulated."
The children’s appearance will have also changed since they were last seen by family in January.
"They will be taller; they will have either lost baby teeth or started to get their adult teeth and will likely be wearing their hair in different styles. They could also be using different names.
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Marokopa mystery: Private investigator's theories on missing Phillips family
Despite there being more than 400,000 security and surveillance cameras in New Zealand and most Kiwis being on social media, a private investigator says it
www.newstalkzb.co.nz
Despite there being more than 400,000 security and surveillance cameras in New Zealand and most Kiwis being on social media, a private investigator says it is actually very easy to vanish without a trace in this day and age - all it takes is a digital hiatus, the right skills and people helping you.
Former military and police officer Chris Budge believes these three variables are the reason Marokopa man Tom Phillips and his children Jayda, 9, Maverick, 8, and Ember, 6, haven’t been found after disappearing over a year ago.
Phillips and the children have not been seen since December 9, 2021, and the children’s mum and siblings have faced another Christmas without them. This is the second time they have gone missing in recent times.
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Missing Marokopa kids: Sister fears they'll feel forgotten about
Older sister Jubilee Dawson spoke exclusively with Mata Reports in hopes of reigniting the investigation into the disappearance of Jayda, Maverick and Ember.
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Spotted 3 times without children, driving stolen vehicle. Article with video of press conference.
www.rnz.co.nz
Sightings of Tom Phillips on Wednesday evening are the first confirmed of him since he went missing with his three children in 18 months, police say.
Inspector Will Loughrin said reports came in on Wednesday night that Phillips had been seen, alone, in a brown/ bronze 2003 Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute on State Highway 31 in the Kāwhia area. The vehicle was stolen, police said.
The first sighting was south of Te Awamutu at approximately 12.30pm yesterday and the vehicle was heading in the direction of Hamilton, Loughrin said.
"There was also a sighting of Tom at the Bunnings Te Rapa carpark at about 4pm." Loughrin said the person who reported seeing Phillips in the Bunnings carpark was known to Phillips.
"They were able to provide us with a fairly detailed account of what occurred."
"Following that, the same ute we believe was driven by Tom Phillips was sighted in the Kawhia area at 8.45pm."
He said police were alerted to that vehicle because it had been involved in an altercation between Tom and a member of the community on Kawhia Road. Loughrin was not prepared to give further details about the nature of the altercation
"That altercation led to that person ringing police ... Police responded immediately, however, the vehicle was not located.
"As part of the police response, the Eagle helicopter out of Tamaki Makaurau was also deployed." However, the vehicle of interest was not located at the time, Loughrin said.
In all, there were three sightings of Phillips. Loughrin asked anyone who had information about the Toyota ute he had described to report any current sightings to 111.
"We need to find that vehicle.
************
Phillips' children Jayda, Maverick and Ember were not seen yesterday, police said. Jayda was 10, Maverick was 8 and Ember was 7, Loughrin said. Phillips was 36.
"Tom and his three children, Jayda, Maverick and Ember, have been missing since December 2021. Since then, police have worked on this inquiry with a sole focus of bringing the children home.
************
Loughrin said Phillips was "concealing his identity".
However, the investigation team had been able to put a number of things together to satisfy police that it was Phillips who had been in possession of the vehicle of interest last night, Loughrin said.
"He has changed his appearance," Loughrin said. "We will release further information as it comes to hand around what Tom's updated appearance may look like."
*************
He would not comment on whether he considered Phillips to be dangerous.
On 2 August, police received reports of sightings of Tom Phillips in a brown/bronze 2003 Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute on State Highway 31 in the Kawhia area. Photo: Supplied / Police
Watch: Police speak after reported sighting of father of missing Marokopa children
A sighting of Tom Phillips on Wednesday evening is the first confirmed sighting of him in 18 months, police say.
www.rnz.co.nz
Sightings of Tom Phillips on Wednesday evening are the first confirmed of him since he went missing with his three children in 18 months, police say.
Inspector Will Loughrin said reports came in on Wednesday night that Phillips had been seen, alone, in a brown/ bronze 2003 Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute on State Highway 31 in the Kāwhia area. The vehicle was stolen, police said.
The first sighting was south of Te Awamutu at approximately 12.30pm yesterday and the vehicle was heading in the direction of Hamilton, Loughrin said.
"There was also a sighting of Tom at the Bunnings Te Rapa carpark at about 4pm." Loughrin said the person who reported seeing Phillips in the Bunnings carpark was known to Phillips.
"They were able to provide us with a fairly detailed account of what occurred."
"Following that, the same ute we believe was driven by Tom Phillips was sighted in the Kawhia area at 8.45pm."
He said police were alerted to that vehicle because it had been involved in an altercation between Tom and a member of the community on Kawhia Road. Loughrin was not prepared to give further details about the nature of the altercation
"That altercation led to that person ringing police ... Police responded immediately, however, the vehicle was not located.
"As part of the police response, the Eagle helicopter out of Tamaki Makaurau was also deployed." However, the vehicle of interest was not located at the time, Loughrin said.
In all, there were three sightings of Phillips. Loughrin asked anyone who had information about the Toyota ute he had described to report any current sightings to 111.
"We need to find that vehicle.
************
Phillips' children Jayda, Maverick and Ember were not seen yesterday, police said. Jayda was 10, Maverick was 8 and Ember was 7, Loughrin said. Phillips was 36.
"Tom and his three children, Jayda, Maverick and Ember, have been missing since December 2021. Since then, police have worked on this inquiry with a sole focus of bringing the children home.
************
Loughrin said Phillips was "concealing his identity".
However, the investigation team had been able to put a number of things together to satisfy police that it was Phillips who had been in possession of the vehicle of interest last night, Loughrin said.
"He has changed his appearance," Loughrin said. "We will release further information as it comes to hand around what Tom's updated appearance may look like."
*************
He would not comment on whether he considered Phillips to be dangerous.
On 2 August, police received reports of sightings of Tom Phillips in a brown/bronze 2003 Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute on State Highway 31 in the Kawhia area. Photo: Supplied / Police
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