Found Safe New Zealand - Tom Phillips, 34, shot/deceased; his 3 children who were with him found alive

[legalmomma]

Family of fugitive dad unleashes after he was killed in cop shootout

Fugitive father Tom Phillips has been shot dead by police in New Zealand after being on the run with his three young children for almost four years.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The injured male constable was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition, where he has undergone 'the first of many surgeries after being shot multiple times'.
…
Rumours that a baby had also been missing with the group appeared to be unfounded.
…

 

[Elley Mae]

One of the children, Jayda, was also located at the scene, along with a cache of firearms.

Authorities announced that Maverick and Ember were rescued from a campsite at around 4:30 p.m. Monday, thanks to vital details provided by Jayda.

Fugitive father on run with 3 kids in wilderness for 4 years shot dead during shootout with New Zealand cops

Tom Phillips disappeared into the New Zealand wilderness with his children, Ember, now 9, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12, just before Christmas 2021.

nypost.com

 

[Dotta]

"Hidden for nearly four years: ​

how the saga of fugitive father Tom Phillips unfolded in New Zealand.​

In a tragic end to a case that has captivated New Zealand for nearly four years,
fugitive father Tom Phillips was shot dead by police after a burglary on Monday.

Phillips had been on the run with his three children since 2021.
One of the children was with Phillips during the exchange of fire near Piopio on Monday,
while the two others remained missing for hours after his death.

It began just before Christmas 2021,
when Phillips fled into the Waikato wilderness with his children
Ember, now 9, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12,
following a dispute with their mother.

Phillips did not have legal custody of his children...

The mayor of Waitomo, John Robertson, said it was the worst possible end to the saga.

'I’m shattered, to be honest,
and there will be many in the community that are devastated that this was the outcome after three and a half,
four years',
he said.

Robertson had hoped that the situation could have been resolved through negotiations with Phillips.
His family and the family of the policeman would be deeply affected,
he said."

Hidden for nearly four years: how the saga of fugitive father Tom Phillips unfolded in New Zealand

Sightings of Phillips and his three children were rare over the years and mystery surrounded how they survived in the remote wilderness

www.theguardian.com

 

[Absoluterubbish]

This is such a sad outcome for his children but I can’t see how it would have ended any other way. He has traumatised those children for life and so deeply. The other thing that amazes me is their campsite (and I’m sure they’ve had plenty of the past 4 years) was found basically a stones throw from where they disappeared 4 years ago.

So he’s never left the area. Why oh why did it take police 4 years to find him. I know the whole situation has been very volatile and the Police have been concerned for the children’s safety if any confrontation had occurred. But to have not left the area and evaded authorities for 4 years blows my mind.

I hope those poor children get the tremendous amount of support that they will need to integrate back into society and to work through the trauma they have faced.

Poor things.

 

[sapphire blue]

4 years without their mother, older siblings, extended families
4 years without the stability of a proper home
4 years without school and friends
4 years without medical and dental care
4 years of trauma
the criminal behaviours and now the death of their father

undoubtedly there will be a lifetime of trauma for them and the families to work through
May their Whanau (meaning for family group, pronounced FAH-now) surround them with a lifetime of support and love. Glad the kids are now safe.

 

[Ocalasunrise]

This is such a sad outcome for his children but I can’t see how it would have ended any other way. He has traumatised those children for life and so deeply. The other thing that amazes me is their campsite (and I’m sure they’ve had plenty of the past 4 years) was found basically a stones throw from where they disappeared 4 years ago.

So he’s never left the area. Why oh why did it take police 4 years to find him. I know the whole situation has been very volatile and the Police have been concerned for the children’s safety if any confrontation had occurred. But to have not left the area and evaded authorities for 4 years blows my mind.

I hope those poor children get the tremendous amount of support that they will need to integrate back into society and to work through the trauma they have faced.

Poor things.

I strongly suspect that the police knew where they were for periods of time, especially recently, but were mindful of the child's safety. As we know, their father was armed and willing to use firearms. Suspect there were times when they were being sheltered so further individuals were involved and possibly at risk (or willing to ally with the father) if police had launched a rescue mission. There were recent mentions of a possible breakdown in that support network - as borne out by the tragic events - and police seemed pretty prepped to respond to burglary that led to the end of this, despite claiming actions to prevent the getaway were 'just officers intuition'.

 

[sapphire blue]

Tom Phillips' children found safe at 'very remote' campsite; urgent injunction in place

The children have been taken for medical checks.

www.nzherald.co.nz

‘Interim suppression orders in place until 2.15pm on September 11’

What doesn’t Tom’s mother want known yet

 

[Bluebear15]

I'm glad that this forum is fact based. The nonsense opinions elsewhere are shameful.

 

[Cedars]

I strongly suspect that the police knew where they were for periods of time, especially recently, but were mindful of the child's safety. As we know, their father was armed and willing to use firearms. Suspect there were times when they were being sheltered so further individuals were involved and possibly at risk (or willing to ally with the father) if police had launched a rescue mission. There were recent mentions of a possible breakdown in that support network - as borne out by the tragic events - and police seemed pretty prepped to respond to burglary that led to the end of this, despite claiming actions to prevent the getaway were 'just officers intuition'.

IMO, ordinary police are not a military-style force, that are trained to engage in tactics like 'I order you to shoot and kill the enemy'.

A SWAT team is trained that way, but ordinary police just try to arrest people who commit crimes.

IMO, the father opened fire first, and police were forced to shoot back. The headlines make it sound like he was innocently and unfairly killed.

Most places have an investigation after an officer-involved death, to ensure the officers had no option but to kill him.

JMO

 

[Absoluterubbish]

IMO, ordinary police are not a military-style force, that are trained to engage in tactics like 'I order you to shoot and kill the enemy'.

A SWAT team is trained that way, but ordinary police just try to arrest people who commit crimes.

IMO, the father opened fire first, and police were forced to shoot back. The headlines make it sound like he was innocently and unfairly killed.

Most places have an investigation after an officer-involved death, to ensure the officers had no option but to kill him.

JMO

Yes he was killed AFTER he ambushed the first officer. The first officer didn’t even fire a gun. The second officer who arrived after him did.

 

[Absoluterubbish]

Tom Phillips' children found safe at 'very remote' campsite; urgent injunction in place

The children have been taken for medical checks.

www.nzherald.co.nz

‘Interim suppression orders in place until 2.15pm on September 11’

What doesn’t Tom’s mother want known yet

I am really perplexed by this. What could there possibly be that was so important they sought an injunction against media, police and OT before the day was even over yesterday.

 

[Megnut]

I am really perplexed by this. What could there possibly be that was so important they sought an injunction against media, police and OT before the day was even over yesterday.

To quell rumors? Most likely, to protect the children.

I'm reminded of the protective arms wrapped around ElizabethSmart when she was rescued. Shielded from the media.

Hoping the LEO makes a full recovery and thst this case fades fast so the children can recover, without the pressure of the media.

JMO

 

[OneLove]

I'd really like to think his mother filed the injunction for the protection of the children rather than to shield her son from negative publicity. ~Is there a record of her pleading with her son to return the kids safely during those 4 long years?

Its interesting and of note that the mother of the children is not the one who filed the injunction. I wonder why. Are there facts concerning the case or Tom Phillips that *need* to be known?

I do hope that in the future, when they are fully mature and able to process more fully, that the kids will be able to read the media reports and know that they were loved and sought during their long terrible ordeal.

ETA: Tom Phillips was no modern day Robin Hood champion of the people. He deprived his children of their rights and they suffered terribly because he was a badly damaged human being. I cant help but be curious as to what caused his damage.

 

[LadyL]

"Hidden for nearly four years: ​

how the saga of fugitive father Tom Phillips unfolded in New Zealand.​

View attachment 613233

In a tragic end to a case that has captivated New Zealand for nearly four years,
fugitive father Tom Phillips was shot dead by police after a burglary on Monday.

Phillips had been on the run with his three children since 2021.
One of the children was with Phillips during the exchange of fire near Piopio on Monday,
while the two others remained missing for hours after his death.

It began just before Christmas 2021,
when Phillips fled into the Waikato wilderness with his children
Ember, now 9, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12,
following a dispute with their mother.

Phillips did not have legal custody of his children...

The mayor of Waitomo, John Robertson, said it was the worst possible end to the saga.

'I’m shattered, to be honest,
and there will be many in the community that are devastated that this was the outcome after three and a half,
four years',
he said.

Robertson had hoped that the situation could have been resolved through negotiations with Phillips.
His family and the family of the policeman would be deeply affected,
he said."

Hidden for nearly four years: how the saga of fugitive father Tom Phillips unfolded in New Zealand

Sightings of Phillips and his three children were rare over the years and mystery surrounded how they survived in the remote wilderness

www.theguardian.com

it's definitely not the worse possible outcome
the children are alive and able to be reunited with their Mom and other family members

 

[Cascadia Mount]

This is such a sad outcome for his children but I can’t see how it would have ended any other way. He has traumatised those children for life and so deeply. The other thing that amazes me is their campsite (and I’m sure they’ve had plenty of the past 4 years) was found basically a stones throw from where they disappeared 4 years ago.

So he’s never left the area. Why oh why did it take police 4 years to find him. I know the whole situation has been very volatile and the Police have been concerned for the children’s safety if any confrontation had occurred. But to have not left the area and evaded authorities for 4 years blows my mind.

I hope those poor children get the tremendous amount of support that they will need to integrate back into society and to work through the trauma they have faced.

Poor things.

I'm just so glad the kids are alive. He seemed like the type that would have killed them before letting them go.

 

[Cascadia Mount]

it's definitely not the worse possible outcome
the children are alive and able to be reunited with their Mom and other family members100

100%. he seemed like the family annihalator type.

 

[Cascadia Mount]

I strongly suspect that the police knew where they were for periods of time, especially recently, but were mindful of the child's safety. As we know, their father was armed and willing to use firearms. Suspect there were times when they were being sheltered so further individuals were involved and possibly at risk (or willing to ally with the father) if police had launched a rescue mission. There were recent mentions of a possible breakdown in that support network - as borne out by the tragic events - and police seemed pretty prepped to respond to burglary that led to the end of this, despite claiming actions to prevent the getaway were 'just officers intuition'.

Yes he was dangerous. There is a recent case in the States of a man that kidnapped his three daughters and shot them dead.

 

[Absoluterubbish]

100%. he seemed like the family annihalator type.

I think is why police never really wanted to approach them at a campsite even if they could find them

 

[LadyL]

100%. he seemed like the family annihalator type.

for sure
he was willing to shoot a cop multiple times

 

[LadyL]

I never expected a good ending to this story so I'm thrilled that these kids are now safe.