A fugitive New Zealand father who vanished with his three children nearly four years ago has been killed in a police shootout, ending one of the country’s most puzzling missing persons cases.
Tom Phillips, 37, was fatally shot on Monday morning after allegedly robbing a rural farm supply store on the North Island. Police confirmed he was armed and exchanged gunfire before being struck. His death closes a chapter in a case that has fascinated and divided New Zealand since late 2021.
Phillips’ saga began in September 2021, when his Toyota Hilux was discovered abandoned on a beach south of Marokopa, a remote settlement on the island’s west coast. Police launched an 18-day search for him and his children — Jayda, Maverick, and Ember — but found no trace. Weeks later, he reappeared at his parents’ Marokopa farm with the children, claiming he had taken them on a long bush camping trip to “clear his head.”
Authorities charged him with wasting police resources, with a court appearance set for January 2022. But before that date arrived, Phillips vanished again in December 2021, taking his children with him. This time, they never returned.
Despite mounting public pressure, police initially held back from launching a large-scale manhunt. Family members said Phillips had told them he planned another bush trip with the children. When months passed without contact, speculation grew that they were living off-grid.
Police later suggested Phillips might have changed his and his children’s identities to remain hidden. Sightings were reported sporadically, but he successfully evaded capture for years, reportedly surviving through hunting, bushcraft, and rural connections.
The reasons behind his disappearance remain bitterly contested. Before going into hiding, Phillips had separated from his wife, Cat, and was engaged in a custody dispute. She told reporters that his first disappearance was no accident but a calculated attempt to hurt her.
“He’s trying to teach me a lesson,” Cat said at the time. “He doesn’t care for them — they’re just pawns in this game.”
Former neighbors described Phillips as intelligent, resourceful, and “a jack of all trades,” characteristics that may have enabled him to live off the grid for so long with three children in tow. He was also known as an experienced hunter and outdoorsman.
For nearly four years, Phillips became one of New Zealand’s most wanted fugitives, with police appealing repeatedly to the public for sightings. His children’s wellbeing during that time has not yet been fully detailed.
The fatal confrontation this week came after reports that Phillips had been involved in the armed robbery of a farm supply store, signaling a turn toward more dangerous criminal activity. Police said their priority now is ensuring the safety and welfare of his three children.
The case has raised difficult questions about custody disputes, police handling of missing persons investigations, and the risks posed by long-term fugitives living outside the system.
