Nearly four years after vanishing into the remote wilderness of New Zealand with his three children, fugitive father Tom Phillips is being urged by his family to come home.
Phillips, who disappeared in 2021 after a dispute with his ex-partner, has become the focus of one of the country’s most high-profile missing persons cases. His children—Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9—have not been seen publicly since October 2024, when pig hunters filmed the family on New Zealand’s North Island.
Despite extensive searches, widespread media attention, and an $80,000 NZD ($52,000 USD) reward for information, Phillips and his children remain missing.
Family’s Emotional Plea
In a deeply emotional appeal aired on the television program Paddy Gower Has Issues and shared by the New Zealand news site Stuff, Phillips’ sister Rozzi Phillips spoke directly to her brother.
“I miss you, and I miss being part of your life,” she said through tears. “You’re very special to me… I really want to see you again.”
Rozzi expressed hope that her brother might hear her words and realize he could still come home. She also read a letter from their mother, who spoke of the pain of seeing reminders of her missing son and grandchildren every day.
“It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you, and see some of your things that are still here, thinking what could have been if you had not gone away,” the letter read. “Jayda, Maverick, Ember, I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives every day I wake up, and hope that today will be the day that you will come.”
Living Off the Grid
Authorities believe Phillips has relied on his survival skills to live off the grid with the children. Police say he has managed to feed and clothe them while avoiding capture for years.
His ex-partner, Cat, the mother of the three children, has previously expressed anguish at the situation. Speaking to the New Zealand Herald in 2022, she said she was relieved to hear her children were alive but accused Phillips of using them as “pawns in his game.”
“The children shouldn’t have to be worrying about where they’re going to sleep that night or whether they’re going to be warm,” she said.
Alleged Crimes on the Run
During his time as a fugitive, Phillips has been linked to several alleged crimes. In September 2023, police issued an arrest warrant for Phillips in connection with an armed robbery at a bank in the Waikato region earlier that year. Authorities allege he fled the scene on a black farm-style motorbike.
These allegations have further complicated the search, turning the case from a missing persons investigation into one also involving criminal charges.
Ongoing Search
The New Zealand Police continue to urge the public to report any sightings or information that could lead to Phillips and his children. Despite multiple reported sightings over the years, none have resulted in their capture or safe recovery.
Authorities say the ongoing search remains a top priority, emphasizing the safety and wellbeing of the three children.
For Phillips’ family, however, the matter is more personal than legal. Their plea is simple: to see their loved ones again after years of uncertainty.
As Rozzi put it: “We are here for him, and it might just be okay if he comes home.”
While the search continues, the mystery of a father who disappeared with his children into the wilderness—and the toll it has taken on everyone left behind—remains unresolved.
