Police release first photos of where man hid children after vanishing four years ago

Police in New Zealand have released the first photographs of where a man hid his children after vanishing with them four years ago.

Tom Phillips and his three children - Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10 and Ember, nine - disappeared from their home in December 2021.

It's believed that Phillips took the children due to a custody battle taking place with their mother, Cat.

Speaking to the New Zealand Herald for a mini-documentary about the case, Andrew Saunders, who was Acting Detective Inspector at the time, said: "That's effectively why we believe he has taken the children, over custody."

At the time, a huge search took place across the nation, but despite sightings, Phillips managed to evade capture, until now.

The situation came to a head this week when police were alerted to reports of an attempted burglary at a rural farm supply shop.

Arriving at the scene, officers entered into a shootout with Phillips, in which he was shot dead and an officer was injured.

Fugitive dad Tom Phillips (New Zealand Police)

One of Phillips' children was with him at the scene. The child is then said to have assisted police in finding their two siblings, who were confirmed to have been discovered later the same day at a camp in the Waikato region.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers explained: “They are with police officers now, and are being removed from that location.

“I can confirm that the children are well and uninjured, and they will be taken to a location this evening for medical checks."

Now, police have released new images of where they found the two children.

"The makeshift camp was located by specialist Police, acting on information from one of the children, about 2 kilometres from the scene where Phillips died after he shot and critically injured a Police officer," they explained.

"The camp area in Waitomo and the scene of the shooting remain active crime scenes, with forensic staff on site today to gather evidence.

"Three firearms, including the weapon used by Phillips, have been recovered from the scene of the shooting. Several firearms have been located from the area where Phillips was camping, and further details will be shared when they become available."

Police have shared photos of the camp (New Zealand Police)

Meanwhile, Rogers added that the children are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children.

“Our staff described the children as being engaged and they readily spoke with our staff, who provided them with snacks and drinks while they waited to be brought out of the camp site," she said.

“While they are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki, we will continue to work closely with the children, taking the time and sensitivity that is needed after the ordeal they have been through.”

Their mother expressed her relief that she finally knows where her children are, according to RNZ, saying: “First and foremost, we are deeply relieved that for our tamariki (children) this ordeal has come to an end.

"[The children] have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care.

"At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today. Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved."

Two of Phillips' children were found at the camp (New Zealand Police)

When did Tom Phillips and his children disappear?

Phillips and his three kids first disappeared in September 2021, which lead to police first searching for them. However, he appeared at his parents' farm some 19 days later.

Phillips was charged with wasting police time, but by December 2021 he and the children had vanished again.

Sightings

The missing kids were seemingly recorded in October last year by a group of teenagers.

Cat, the children's mother, said she was 'grateful' for witnesses for making the recording, suggesting how it felt like Christmas had come 'early'.

A further sighting came last month after CCTV footage revealed two people in full-body clothing, with police 'confident' it was Phillips and one of his children.

The clip saw the pair breaking into a store in the small town of Piopio in the early hours earlier this week before driving off on a quad bike.

Why did Tom Phillips kidnap his children?

Officials believe Phillips took the kids after losing legal custody of them to Cat. Speaking to the New Zealand Herald for a documentary about the case, Andrew Saunders, who was Acting Detective Inspector at the time, said: "That's effectively why we believe he has taken the children, over custody."

What has Cat said?

The mother of the three children shared a statement with Radio New Zealand after being reunited with her four children.

"[The children] have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care," Cat said.

"At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today. Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved."