Police have released the first images of what they believe is one of many campsites where a New Zealand father on the run hid with his three children for years.
Two of Tom Phillips' children were found at the site in the Waikato region on Monday, hours after he was killed in a shootout with the police.
Police found them with the help of the third child, who was with Phillips when he died. They said the children are doing well, but will take time to recover from the ordeal.
Shortly before Christmas in 2021, Phillips disappeared with his children – Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, then aged eight, seven, and five respectively. Police believe he did so after losing legal custody of them.
Phillips had no regard for the children's safety and quite literally put [them] in harm's way, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told the media on Tuesday, adding that they are now in the care of authorities.
A stash of firearms and ammunition were also found at the campsite, which is surrounded by dense vegetation, with two quad bikes parked among trees.
By the time authorities arrived at the site, the search for the two children had been underway for nearly 12 hours following a report of an attempted burglary. This incident led to the shootout with Phillips, during which an officer was seriously injured after being shot at with a high-powered rifle.
Phillips' case has captivated New Zealand since he first became a fugitive nearly four years ago, leaving authorities puzzled about how he evaded capture despite extensive searches.
As investigations continue, concerns linger regarding the children’s well-being and their mother's reaction to the events. Our priority is to make sure these children are looked after and that there is a careful plan, with everyone becoming involved at the right time, Police Minister Mark Mitchell stated, emphasizing the challenging journey ahead for the children.
On Monday, the children's mother expressed relief that the ordeal had come to an end but reflected on the unfortunate turn of events surrounding Phillips' tragic demise.
