Tom Phillips’ autopsy is scheduled for today as investigations ramp up after the young Phillips siblings’ second night away from the Waikato backcountry.
The makeshift campsite Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, called home in Waitomo remained under scene guard as police processed evidence.
The police photos released yesterday detailed the conditions the young children were forced to endure, painting a grim picture of their daily reality within rubbish and tarps.
The body of Phillips was removed from the scene late on Monday and there will be an autopsy today, after which his body will be released to his family, police said.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers said investigation staff were going over the areas where the family had been staying and had been speaking with farmers, locals and workers in the area.
“That work is to help us build an accurate picture of the movements of Tom Phillips and the children,” she said.
The shooting location near the intersection of Te Anga and Waipuna Rds remained an active crime scene, with forensic staff on site yesterday.
Three firearms, including the weapon used by Phillips, were recovered from the scene of the shooting.
Several other firearms were located in the area where Phillips was camping.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said Phillips had not been at this site for any considerable time; instead, police believe he was moving around during the years he spent on the run.
The camp was found by specialist police about 2km from where Phillips died.
The photos supplied by police revealed details of the conditions the young children were forced to live in.
Multiple wheels, a jerry can, three Sprite cans and large glass bottles were scattered within the makeshift site.
Mechanical parts were also visible.
Chambers could not say whether police had previously searched the exact location where the campsite was found.
“Over the past four years, we have covered this terrain, this region a lot,” Chambers said.
“It’s highly likely that we’ve been very, very close.”
The area where the makeshift campsite was found would have made it “very easy to hide”, a local business and property owner told the Herald.
Chambers said police had a significant number of interviews to carry out, including with the Phillips children, which would take some time.
He said police will give the Phillips children enough time as they need to settle, but there would come a time when police need to speak to them.
Rogers said the children were reunited late on Monday and are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki.
“Our staff described the children as being engaged, and they readily spoke with our staff, who provided them with snacks and drinks while they waited to be brought out of the campsite.
“While they are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki, we will continue to work closely with the children, taking the time and sensitivity that is needed after the ordeal they have been through,” Rogers said.
Chambers would not comment on whether the children’s mother had seen them yet.
Oranga Tamariki Bay of Plenty regional commissioner Warwick Morehu said the children are doing well under the circumstances and engaging with the staff.
“They are settled, they are comfortable. They are together.”
A severely injured police officer is facing a long recovery after being shot by Phillips on Monday. He was visited by Chambers and Minister of Police Mark Mitchell in hospital yesterday.
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.