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Police searching for fugitive father Tom Phillips have moved their focus to Otorohanga. Video / NZHerald
NOW PLAYING • Hunt for Tom Phillips moves from Marokopa to Ōtorohanga
Police searching for fugitive father Tom Phillips move their focus to Ōtorohanga. Video / NZ Herald.
The reward period for information leading to the whereabouts of three missing Marokopa children and their fugitive father Tom Phillips has expired.
Phillips has been missing with his three children Jayda, Ember and Maverick somewhere in the Waikato bush since December 2021.
The deadline for the $80,000 reward for information leading to the location and safe return of the three children expired at 11.59pm last night.
Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said on Monday, while the extra officers deployed to the region in recent weeks would be pulled out of the area, a dedicated investigation team would remain to assess tips and any information about Phillips’ whereabouts.
He said police had received 50 reports worthy of consideration since they announced their reward. A further 150 reports have been made to police.
Saunders refused to give details of those tips as the investigation was ongoing. He did confirm police were looking at several locations of interest in the western Waikato.
Saunders said: “We continue to have concerns for the wellbeing and safety of Ember, Maverick and Jayda, who have been missing since ... they were taken by their father, Tom Phillips, to a location unknown.
“If you have credible, current information that could lead to the location and safe return of Ember, Maverick and Jayda, please email the dedicated email address op.curly@police.govt.nz(link sends e-mail) or contact Police on 105 or online at 105.police.govt.nz clicking ‘Update Report’ and referencing file number 211218/5611.”
Clockwise from top left: Tom Phillips and children Jayda, Ember and Maverick. Photo / New Zealand Police
While on the run, Phillips is alleged to have robbed a bank, shot at a supermarket worker, stolen a ute and a quad bike, and tried to break into a shop.
The mother of the three missing Marokopa children recently made a public plea for the return of her children and shared a letter she claimed was written by their on-the-run father, in which he said, “I have a good heart and I mean well”.
In a video message to Phillips, mother Cat said: “I am standing here before you today begging you for your help to bring my babies home.
Watch: Mother of missing children speaks out
The mum of the missing Marokopa children has recorded a video pleading with their father to 'bring her babies home'. Video / Operation Curly
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The mum of the missing Marokopa children has recorded a video pleading with their father to 'bring her babies home'. Video / Operation Curly
“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.”
As well as the reward, an immunity period being offered to anyone helping Phillips hide who tipped police off was not guaranteed to continue past Tuesday night, a police spokesman told the Herald.
Attention on Phillips and his children has ramped up in the past two weeks, with police issuing the reward, deploying officers to Marokopa and then Ōtorohanga, and setting up checkpoints in the hope of finding them.
On the Run
The search for fugitive dad Tom Phillips and his three children
September 11, 2021
Tom Phillips vanishes for the first time with his three young children Jayda, now aged 11, Maverick, now aged 9, and Ember, now aged 7, from a beach near Marokopa.
1 The discovery of his ute on the shoreline sparks a major land and sea search.
2 The quartet later return to a family farm almost three weeks later, with Phillips saying he needed timeout.
Phillips is charged with wasting police resources.
December 9, 2021
Almost a month before a scheduled court appearance, Phillips again takes his children from Marokopa.
An arrest warrant is then issued after he fails to appear before court.
May 2022
The mother of the three missing children makes a public appeal for any information which might lead to their discovery.
She also says she believes that Phillips is “getting help from someone which has allowed them to stay off the grid for the past six months”.
September 2022
Police rule out issuing a reward for any information leading to the safe return of the children and the arrest of Phillips. Soon after the children’s maternal family launch a givealittle which contributes to their own $10,000 reward.
May 16, 2023
3 Phillips allegedly robbed a bank and shot at a supermarket worker in Te Kūiti in May, prompting police to issue a warrant for his arrest on September 5.
Police charged him with aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawfully possessing a firearm over the armed heist of ANZ Te Kūiti on Rora St on May 16.
August 2, 2023
Phillips is seen driving a ute which is reported to be stolen from near Kāwhia.
4 He is seen in two different Bunnings Warehouse stores, disguising himself with glasses and a surgical facemask. He used cash to buy items, which suggested he may have set up a campsite, including headlamps, batteries, seedlings, buckets and gumboots.
5 Later that day, Phillips gets into a fight with the owner of the stolen ute in Kāwhia. The owner tries to run Phillips off the road. The owner also realises winter clothing is missing from his property.
September 2023
Police revealed they had received 14 reports of sightings of Phillips throughout September.
Detective Inspector Saunders said: “Unfortunately, none of these reported sightings of Tom Phillips or the three children have been positive.”
November 2, 2023
6 Phillips allegedly stole a quad bike from a rural Waikato property and then broke into a shop with one of his children on November 2.
Police appealed for any sightings from the public of Phillips, his children or the stolen quad bike.
7 Security footage from the Piopio shop shows the masked pair smashing the front glass and fleeing north after the alarm was set off about 2am.
June 14, 2024
8 After three days of intensive activity in Marokopa (1), police focus moved to Ōtorohanga
