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Phillips family disappearances

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Phillips family
Disappeared9 December 2021
StatusMissing for 3 years

Tom Phillips and his three young children disappeared from the isolated rural Waikato town of Marokopa on 9 December 2021. New Zealand Police believe that the children were taken by their father to a location somewhere in the western Waikato, after a dispute with their mother. Phillips is alleged to have committed a bank robbery in September 2023, but the first sighting of all three children with their father was on 3 October 2024, when they were spotted walking through Marokopa farmland. However, despite a three-day search of the area, including the use of a military helicopter, they have not yet been located.

The family had previously been considered missing for 19 days in September of the same year, sparking a major search effort. Phillips's truck was found abandoned on the Marokopa shoreline and was swamped with seawater. Almost three weeks later, Phillips returned with the children, claiming that he had taken them on a camping trip in dense bush in an effort to clear his head. He was charged with wasting police time and resources.

Background

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Before their disappearance, Tom Phillips lived in Ōtorohanga in New Zealand's Waikato district with his three children.[1][2] They also spent much of their time at the family farm in Marokopa. Phillips had been separated from his wife Catherine for several years and was homeschooling the children.[citation needed][3] He is an experienced hunter and camper. The Phillips family has farmed in the area for generations.[4]

First disappearance (September 2021)

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The Phillips family had last been seen on 11 September 2021, at the family farm in Marokopa. Two days later their Toyota Hilux was found parked below the tideline at nearby Kiritehere beach, being battered by waves.[5] The car keys were under the driver's side mat. Police launched a search operation and a rāhui was placed on the area, disrupting local whitebait fishing.[6][7] Searchers' initial assessment was that they had most likely been swept out to sea.[8] Despite daily searches of land, sky, and sea, involving a plane, helicopter, jet ski, inflatable rescue boat, and heat-detecting drones, no trace was found. The search base at Marokopa Hall was stood down on 19 September[9] and daily searches were suspended on 24 September.[10][11]

Phillips and his children were sighted in the morning of 30 September, riding a bike on Mangatoa Road. Police dispatched a plane but were unable to find them. Later in the morning, they "walked through the door" of the family farm.[12] Phillips' sister stated that he had "wanted space to clear his head" and had been living in a tent 15 km (9.3 miles) inland from the beach where his ute had been found. The children were perfectly healthy,[13][14] described as "bouncy as ever" by their grandmother.[15] A friend of Phillips alleged that he had parked the ute in a car park near where he was camping but that it had been stolen, taken for a joyride and dumped at the beach.[16] With the cost of the search estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,[17] Phillips was charged with wasting police resources, with a court date set for 5 November.[18] This was delayed to 12 January 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions.[19]

Second disappearance and robberies (December 2021 – present)

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Phillips disappeared with the children again on 9 December 2021. Police did not initiate a search, stating that he had notified his family of where he was going and was not in violation of court restrictions.[20][21][22] He did not show up to his court date on 12 January and thus an arrest warrant was issued. His lawyer had not heard from him since first informing him of the court date.[19][23] His ute was discovered parked on Mangatoa Road in late January.[24] Phillips returned home for about an hour at night on 9 February to get supplies, telling his family that the children were okay but not disclosing their location.[25] By that point he had grown a beard.[26] New Zealand Police believe that the children were taken by their father to a location somewhere in the western Waikato, "within Marokopa or the surrounding areas” after a dispute with their mother.[27]

The police, the children's mother, and Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter all believe he is receiving additional help to survive.[28][29]

The older half-sisters of the Phillips children launched a petition in May, calling on the police and relevant government ministries to do more to find them.[30] Police subsequently made a public appeal for information on Ten 7 Aotearoa.[31] There were two reported sightings of the children in May,[32] but these were later dismissed by police.[33] The children's maternal family planned for a search in June, but this was cancelled due to concerns from police.[34] In August, police posited the idea that the Phillips family may have changed their names and started a new life elsewhere in the country.[26]

Police declined to offer a reward for the children's return in September 2022,[1] so in October their maternal family began fundraising on Givealittle to offer a $10,000 reward themselves.[35][36] They managed to raise only around half of that, but said they will supply the remaining reward money themselves.[37]

Phillips allegedly stole a Toyota Hilux ute on 2 August 2023. The stolen ute was later found near Te Anga on 4 August.[38][39][40][41]

In September 2023, Phillips was charged with aggravated robbery, including unlawful possession of a firearms, after allegedly robbing a bank and shooting at a supermarket worker in Te Kūiti in May 2023. A NZ$80,000 reward was offered by the police for two weeks in June 2024 for information that led to the location and safe return of the children. The police received 50 tips "deemed worthy of consideration".[42] The offender was photographed with an unidentified accomplice, believed to be one of his children.[43][44]

On 11 June 2024, the police announced a reward of up to $80,000 for information that would lead to the return of the children within two weeks. They also offered legal immunity to anyone who may be assisting the Phillips' if they came forward.[45] They received information overnight and set up checkpoints around Marokopa the next day.[46][47] On the eldest child's eleventh birthday, the children's mother released a video pleading for the public to assist the police in their search.[48]

On 3 October 2024, Phillips and the three children were spotted walking through Marokopa farmland by a pair of pig hunters, who filmed the encounter.[49] The pair did not take the interaction further due to Phillips possessing a gun, and instead called the police. After a three-day search, including the use of a military helicopter, "nothing further of significance" was found, according to police.[50][51]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Nixon, Jane (7 September 2022). "Police rule out reward as hunt for Marokopa kids enters 9th month". 1 News.
  2. ^ "Birthday boy turns 8: Fresh plea for missing Marakopa family to return home for Christmas". New Zealand Herald. 21 November 2022.
  3. ^ Johnston, Caitlan (4 January 2023). "Marokopa mystery: Private investigator explains how easy it can be to go missing as Tom Phillips and children have not been seen for over a year". New Zealand Herald.
  4. ^ Wall, Tony (18 September 2021). "The mystery of the missing family - what's become of Tom Phillips and his kids?". Stuff.
  5. ^ Ensor, Jamie; Rutherford, Karen (14 September 2021). "Police have 'serious concerns' for missing family, vehicle found on beach with waves crashing onto bonnet". Newshub.
  6. ^ Preston, Nikki (15 September 2021). "Father, three children missing: Otorohanga residents shocked over disappearance". New Zealand Herald.
  7. ^ Wall, Tony; Kirkeby, Luke (2 October 2021). "From joy to frustration over Marokopa's lost-then-found family". Waikato Times. Stuff.
  8. ^ McRae, Andrew (7 December 2021). "Thomas Phillips: Search first believed family missing for 17 days likely swept into sea". RNZ.
  9. ^ "Marakopa search continues on land as base wound up". Stuff. 19 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Missing family: Daily searches for family last seen in Marokopa suspended". Stuff. 24 September 2021.
  11. ^ Kronast, Hannah (24 September 2021). "Marokopa missing family: Daily physical search for Thomas Phillips and his children suspended". Newshub.
  12. ^ Satherley, Dan; Rutherford, Karen; Sadler, Rachel (30 September 2021). "Family missing in south Waikato found 'safe and well'". Newshub.
  13. ^ "Marokopa mystery: Family of missing kids on weeks in dense bush - 'Didn't do it hard at all'". New Zealand Herald. 1 October 2021.
  14. ^ Shepherd, Katie (1 October 2021). "A New Zealand family was feared dead after a mysterious disappearance. They had been camping the whole time". Washington Post.
  15. ^ "Three missing Waikato children reunited with family after '17 days of hell'". Stuff. 30 September 2021.
  16. ^ Smith, Laura (22 December 2021). "Marokopa family 'missing' again: Friend says Tom Phillips and his children going bush 'normal'". New Zealand Herald.
  17. ^ Rutherford, Karen (1 October 2021). "Marokopa family: Sister feared she'd never see Tom Phillips or his children again". Newshub.
  18. ^ Moore, Rachel (13 October 2021). "Marokopa's vanishing dad not concerned about police charges, brother says". Stuff.
  19. ^ a b Mather, Mike (12 January 2022). "Marokopa dad Thomas Phillips a no-show in court on charge of wasting police time". Waikato Times. Stuff.
  20. ^ Blommerde, Chloe (20 December 2021). "Marokopa family go bush again, no search initiated by police". Stuff.
  21. ^ Lefroy, Emily (20 December 2021). "Man and three children missing AGAIN after vanishing 3 months ago". Yahoo! News.
  22. ^ Feek, Belinda (20 December 2021). "Marokopa family missing again: Tom Phillips and his children haven't been seen for a week". New Zealand Herald.
  23. ^ "Marokopa mystery: Father Tom Phillips charged with wasting police resources fails to show at court". New Zealand Herald. 12 January 2022.
  24. ^ Moore, Rachel (10 September 2022). "One year on: Cop speaks out about missing Marokopa family". Stuff.
  25. ^ Moore, Rachel (21 March 2022). "Wanted Marokopa dad returned home for supplies". Stuff.
  26. ^ a b "Missing family may have changed names, moved to another part of the country - police". RNZ. 26 August 2022.
  27. ^ Moore, Rachel (11 June 2024). "People come forward with information about Tom Phillips". Stuff Limited. Stuff. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  28. ^ Moore, Rachel (30 April 2022). "Town silent on missing Marokopa family after four months in the bush". Stuff.
  29. ^ "Desperate mum pleads for safe return of missing Phillips children from Marokopa". RNZ. 31 May 2022.
  30. ^ Wall, Tony (6 May 2022). "Adult sisters of missing Marokopa children launch petition asking authorities to do more to find them". Stuff.
  31. ^ Leahy, Ben (18 May 2022). "Family of Marokopa children missing with dad Tom Phillips say Oranga Tamariki closed file". New Zealand Herald.
  32. ^ Rutherford, Karen (30 May 2022). "Police investigating two separate sightings of missing Marokopa children and their father". Newshub.
  33. ^ Nixon, Jane (16 June 2022). "Sightings of missing Marokopa family prove false". 1 News.
  34. ^ Rutherford, Karen (31 May 2022). "Public search for missing Marokopa children and father Tom Phillips put on hold". Newshub.
  35. ^ "Family of missing Marokopa children trying to raise funds for reward". New Zealand Herald. 11 October 2022.
  36. ^ Dine, Jonty (13 October 2022). "Sibling of missing Marokopa kids fundraises reward in appeal for information". RNZ.
  37. ^ Sharma, Akula (8 December 2022). "Family offer $10,000 reward for information on missing Marokopa children". New Zealand Herald.
  38. ^ "Watch: Police speak after reported sighting of father of missing Marokopa children". Radio New Zealand. 3 August 2023.
  39. ^ "Stolen ute used by father of missing Marokopa kids found". 1 News. 4 August 2023.
  40. ^ "Armed police swarm Marokopa after stolen ute found in search for Tom Phillips, children". Newshub. 4 August 2023.
  41. ^ Mather, Mike (4 August 2023). "Stolen ute driven by Tom Phillips found by police in Marokopa". Stuff.
  42. ^ Lyth, Jaime (7 October 2024). "'Credible sighting': Marokopa kids seen together for first time since going missing". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  43. ^ Franks, Raphael (5 September 2023). "Missing Marokopa family: Police issue arrest warrant for father Tom Phillips over alleged bank heist". New Zealand Herald.
  44. ^ Lines-MacKenzie, Jo (15 January 2024). "Two years on the run - How a rogue dad marked Marokopa kids for life". Waikato Times.
  45. ^ Hallberg, Andrew (11 June 2024). "$80,000 reward for missing Marokopa family". Newshub.
  46. ^ "Police receive 'considerable number' of tip-offs about missing Marokopa family after offering reward". Newshub. 12 June 2024.
  47. ^ Garcia, Maryana (12 June 2024). "Police checkpoints set up around Marokopa as Tom Phillips search intensifies". New Zealand Herald.
  48. ^ "Mum of Phillips children breaks silence, appeals to public over Marokopa disappearance". RNZ. 18 June 2024.
  49. ^ Wall, Tony (10 October 2024). "What the missing Phillips kid really said to the pig hunters". Stuff. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  50. ^ "Expert suggests how Marokopa family may eventually be found". NZ Herald. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  51. ^ Maher, Rachel (8 October 2024). "Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips and three children filmed walking through bush". New Zealand Herald.
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