NZ Police Unravel Mystery of Fugitive Tom Phillips’ Years in Wilderness with Children

New Zealand authorities are now piecing together how fugitive Tom Phillips and his three children managed to evade detection for years, living in dense wilderness until a dramatic police operation on Monday led to Phillips’ death and the children’s recovery.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers confirmed on Tuesday, September 9, that the focus is now on understanding the family’s survival methods, finding food, and identifying any individuals who may have aided Phillips in his prolonged concealment. Photos of a temporary campsite, believed to be their final hiding spot, revealed few clues but indicated they were likely very close to previous search efforts.

The years-long ordeal concluded early Monday when Phillips was fatally shot by police after he and one child were intercepted fleeing a robbery. A police officer sustained serious injuries in the shoot-out but is expected to survive. The recovered child subsequently assisted law enforcement in locating the other two children, now aged 9, 10, and 12, at their remote campsite which reportedly contained firearms.

Phillips had been wanted since December 2021 for absconding with his children, for whom he did not have legal custody. He was also sought for an armed bank robbery in 2023 and other break-ins. Despite his known wilderness survival skills, Commissioner Chambers stated that investigators are highly confident Phillips received external assistance to remain hidden, especially given the increased police patrols and the significant reward offered for information.

The case has deeply divided public opinion, with Phillips even finding supporters in his former community. However, Commissioner Chambers unequivocally stated, “No one who does this to children, no one who unleashes high-powered rifles on my staff, is a hero, simple as that.” Officials have not disclosed details regarding the children’s welfare, with New Zealand’s Police Minister Mark Mitchell confirming the involvement of child protective services and a High Court injunction in place to protect sensitive details, acknowledging the children have been exposed to “very complicated” circumstances.

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