Phillips family disappearances

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Phillips family
(Top to bottom, left to right): Tom, Ember, Jaida and Maverick Phillips
Born(2013-06-18)18 June 2013 (Jaida)
(2014-11-21)21 November 2014 (Maverick)
(2016-01-20)20 January 2016 (Ember)
Disappeared9 December 2021
StatusMissing for 2 years, 4 months and 18 days

The Phillips family, consisting of Thomas Phillips and his three children Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, are a New Zealand family who disappeared on 9 December 2021. They were previously considered missing for 18 days in September of the same year, sparking a major search effort. There are warrants for Thomas Phillips' arrest in relation to the first disappearance and an alleged bank robbery during his second disappearance.

Background[edit]

Thomas Phillips lived in Ōtorohanga with his three children Jayda (born 18 June 2013), Maverick (born 21 November 2014), and Ember (born 20 January 2016).[1][2] They also spent much of their time at the family farm in Marokopa. Phillips had separated from his wife of eight years,[3] Catherine, a few years prior, and was homeschooling his kids as he himself had been. He was an experienced hunter and camper. The Phillips family had farmed in the area for generations and were well-respected.[4]

First disappearance (September 2021)[edit]

The Phillips had last been seen on 11 September at the family farm in Marokopa. Two days later their Toyota Hilux was found parked below the tideline at the 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)[edit]

Phillips "went bush" with his kids again in December, last being seen on 9 December. The police did not initiate a search,[20][21] stating that he had notified his family of where he was going and was not in violation of court restrictions.[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] The police, the children's mother, and Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter all stated that they believe he is receiving additional help to survive.[27][28]

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.[29] Police subsequently made a public appeal for information on Ten 7 Aotearoa.[30] There were two reported sightings of the children in May,[31] but these were later dismissed by police.[32] The children's maternal family planned for a search in June, but this was cancelled due to concerns from police.[33] 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,[1] so in October their maternal family began fundraising on Givealittle to offer a $10,000 reward themselves.[34][35] They managed to raise only around half of that, but said they will supply the remaining reward money themselves.[36]

Phillips stole a Toyota Hilux ute on 2 August 2023. He was seen driving near Kāwhia and Pokuru, and shopping at two separate Bunnings Warehouse stores in Hamilton. He wore a surgical mask to disguise himself. The stolen ute was later found near Te Anga on 4 August.[37][38][39][40]

In September 2023, police charged Phillips in connection to an armed bank robbery in Te Kūiti in May with an unidentified accomplice believed to be one of his children.[41][42]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  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 (30 April 2022). "Town silent on missing Marokopa family after four months in the bush". Stuff.
  28. ^ "Desperate mum pleads for safe return of missing Phillips children from Marokopa". RNZ. 31 May 2022.
  29. ^ Wall, Tony (6 May 2022). "Adult sisters of missing Marokopa children launch petition asking authorities to do more to find them". Stuff.
  30. ^ Leahy, Ben (18 May 2022). "Family of Marokopa children missing with dad Tom Phillips say Oranga Tamariki closed file". New Zealand Herald.
  31. ^ Rutherford, Karen (30 May 2022). "Police investigating two separate sightings of missing Marokopa children and their father". Newshub.
  32. ^ Nixon, Jane (16 June 2022). "Sightings of missing Marokopa family prove false". 1 News.
  33. ^ Rutherford, Karen (31 May 2022). "Public search for missing Marokopa children and father Tom Phillips put on hold". Newshub.
  34. ^ "Family of missing Marokopa children trying to raise funds for reward". New Zealand Herald. 11 October 2022.
  35. ^ Dine, Jonty (13 October 2022). "Sibling of missing Marokopa kids fundraises reward in appeal for information". RNZ.
  36. ^ Sharma, Akula (8 December 2022). "Family offer $10,000 reward for information on missing Marokopa children". New Zealand Herald.
  37. ^ "Watch: Police speak after reported sighting of father of missing Marokopa children". Radio New Zealand. 3 August 2023.
  38. ^ "Stolen ute used by father of missing Marokopa kids found". 1 News. 4 August 2023.
  39. ^ "Armed police swarm Marokopa after stolen ute found in search for Tom Phillips, children". Newshub. 4 August 2023.
  40. ^ Mather, Mike (4 August 2023). "Stolen ute driven by Tom Phillips found by police in Marokopa". Stuff.
  41. ^ Franks, Raphael (5 September 2023). "Missing Marokopa family: Police issue arrest warrant for father Tom Phillips over alleged bank heist". New Zealand Herald.
  42. ^ Lines-MacKenzie, Jo (15 January 2024). "Two years on the run - How a rogue dad marked Marokopa kids for life". Waikato Times.
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