The mum and sister of a New Zealand man who kidnapped his three children and has been a fugitive in the wilderness ever since have begged him to come home.
Four years ago, Tom Phillips took his children, Ember, nine, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12, from their home after losing a custody battle with his former partner.
The children’s mother, Catherine, previously said she thought her daughter tried to get a message out to the public during a previous sighting of the four.
Until now, Tom’s family have remained quiet on the matter. This week, his sister Rozzi and mum Julia spoke out for the first time.
In a handwritten letter to her son, mum Julia wrote: ‘Tom – I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this. Not considering how much we love you and can support you.
‘It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here. Jayda, Maverick, Ember – I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.’
Rozzi told Stuff: ‘Every day I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home. There’s a lot of love and there’s a lot of support, and we’re ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through.’
Police think Tom and his children have been hiding off-grid in the rural Waikato region, and have offered a £37,000 reward for anyone who has information on them.
It’s believed Tom has gotten help from other people to remain undetected for this long.
The children were last spotted in February this year, by State Highway 4, south of Te Kūiti.
Catherine previously expressed her worry that her children are in danger, slamming Philips for ‘child endangerment’.
Tom failed to appear in court in January 2022 for a charge of causing wasteful deployment of police personnel and resources.
He is also wanted over an alleged armed robbery of a bank in Te Kuiti in September 2023.
Last year, mum Catherine said in an emotional video: ‘They are just innocent children, they do not deserve to be treated this way. They do not deserve the life that is being provided to them right now.’
Grainy footage of the three children walking with their father in camouflage gear was released last October when hunters saw them in the thick bush.
One of the boys who took the footage recalled: ‘I said, ”This is private property”, and she was like, ”Yeah… duh”. Then I asked, ”Does anyone know you’re on here?” and she said, ”No, just you guys.”‘
Mum Catherine is especially worried for her youngest child, Ember, who is asthmatic and requires medical care.
‘Many of you say that the children are fine and they are being well looked after,’ she previously said.
‘How do you know? Have you seen them? Or is it just bush talk? What Thomas is doing is not OK. It is not OK to divide and conquer, to isolate and control.’
Police DI Andrew Saunders said: ‘Immunity against prosecution will be considered for anyone who has committed an offence in assisting Tom Phillips, if they provide information or evidence which leads to the location and safe return of the children.’
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