Four-Year Manhunt Ends: Fugitive Father Killed, Missing Children Rescued in New Zealand
Four-Year Manhunt Ends: Fugitive Father Killed, Missing Children Rescued in New Zealand
A nearly four-year search for fugitive Thomas Phillips and his three children concluded dramatically today in New Zealand. Phillips was shot dead in an armed confrontation with police, leading to the safe recovery of his children, who had been missing since December 2021.
The intense manhunt ended in the early hours of Monday, September 8, when police responded to a farm shop break-in in a rural Waikato town. A chase ensued, culminating in a shootout where a police officer sustained significant head injuries from a high-powered rifle. Another officer then shot the man believed to be Phillips.
One child was found at the scene with Phillips. Following an urgent search operation involving helicopters, the other two children were located later Monday at a remote campsite near Marokopa. Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed the children, believed to be ages 9, 10, and 12, are well and uninjured, and are now in police custody for medical checks.
The children’s mother, known as Cat, expressed deep relief that the ordeal had ended and looked forward to welcoming them home. Thomas Phillips had been facing multiple charges, including aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm, with police having previously offered a NZ$80,000 reward for information leading to their safe return.
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