The parents of Tom Phillips, who disappeared with his three children in New Zealand’s wilderness in 2021, have publicly apologized for the turmoil their son’s actions caused. In a letter published by King Country News, Neville and Julia Phillips expressed their regret over the “trouble, inconvenience, loss of privacy and property” stemming from Tom’s actions. They asserted that they did not support his behavior over the past four years and expressed sorrow for the difficulties others faced during that time.
Tom Phillips, involved in a custody dispute, evaded authorities for nearly four years, despite a nationwide search and numerous sightings. He was shot by police on September 8, following a confrontation during which a police officer suffered serious injuries. Local reports state the officer has since been released from the hospital. At the time of the shoot-out, one of Phillips’ children was present and later provided information that led to the discovery of his other two children.
Before their disappearance, the family had resided in Marokopa, a small town in the Waikato region characterized by dense bush and challenging terrain. Known as an experienced hunter, Phillips was familiar with the area where he went missing. Detective Superintendent Ross McKay noted that the terrain was particularly difficult and obscured from view, complicating search efforts.
During their time in the wilderness, Tom and his children were spotted several times on CCTV footage while obtaining supplies. The confrontation with police stemmed from an alleged break-in attempt at a store in Piopio, which led to the chase and eventual shoot-out. Authorities indicated that their primary goal was to locate and safely return the children, acknowledging that Phillips had firearms and was likely prepared to use them.
Currently, police are unable to disclose additional details due to ongoing investigations. Prior to the shoot-out, Tom Phillips’ family had publicly urged him to return, with appeals made during media interviews.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7pl4e1y1zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss