How four-year hunt for NZ dad on the run with his children unfolded
Summary
Tom Phillips and his three children went missing from New Zealand's North Island in 2021. After avoiding capture for almost four years, Phillips was killed in a shoot-out with police in 2023. Many details of his disappearance remain unexplained.Key Facts
- Tom Phillips and his three children first went missing on September 11, 2021.
- Phillips' empty car was found abandoned near his parents' home on a beach in Marokopa.
- The family reappeared three weeks later, with Phillips saying they had been camping.
- They vanished again on December 12, 2021, and Phillips failed to show up for a court date on January 12, 2022.
- A warrant was issued for his arrest, and police believed this was linked to a custody dispute.
- Phillips was skilled in survival and known for living off the grid.
- In August to November 2023, there were sightings of Phillips in Kawhia, with claims of attempted thefts.
- Phillips was killed in a police confrontation on October 2023, and several firearms were found with him.
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