After nearly four years on the run with his three children, New Zealand father Tom Phillips has been shot dead by police. Here’s the full timeline of the dramatic case and what happens next for his children.
Everything We Know About the Case
After vanishing in 2021 with his three children, New Zealand father Tom Phillips has been shot dead by police after a violent confrontation in Waikato. His death ends a four-year nationwide search that gripped the country.
The Final Confrontation
On September 8, 2025, police responded to a reported farm shop break-in in Marokopa, where they encountered two suspects — believed to be Phillips and one of his children — on a quad bike.
Police deployed road spikes to stop the vehicle.
Officers were met with gunfire at close range. One officer was shot in the head but survived.
In the exchange, another officer fatally shot Phillips.
The child riding with him was taken into custody.
Shortly after, the child led officers to a remote bush campsite, where the remaining two siblings were found safe and unharmed.
Who Was Tom Phillips?
Phillips first disappeared in September 2021, vanishing with his children Jayda (12), Maverick (10), and Ember (9).
He initially went missing for 19 days before returning to his parents’ farm.
By December 2021, Phillips and the kids disappeared again, sparking years of mystery and public appeals from their mother, Cat.
Authorities believed Phillips, who had strong survival skills, was living off the land in the New Zealand wilderness.
Over the years, sightings of the family were rare but highly publicized.
May 2023: Phillips allegedly involved in an armed bank robbery.
October 2024: Spotted by pig hunters in Waikato.
August 2025: CCTV footage showed Phillips and one child at a North Island store.
Why Did He Take the Children?
Phillips and his partner Cat had separated, and he did not have legal custody. Police believed the abduction was linked to a custody dispute.
Cat spent nearly four years without answers, publicly pleading for her children’s safe return:
“Jayda, Maverick, Ember — I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.”
Mother’s Relief After Children Found
Following Phillips’ death, Cat expressed relief mixed with sorrow:
“For our tamariki (children), this ordeal has come to an end. They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years. We are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care. At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded.”
She also expressed compassion for the injured police officer involved in the shootout.
