Ryan Bridge is joined by Lance Burdett, former Police lead crisis negotiator.
Police have revealed that Tom Phillips’ body has been released to his family, as scene examination of the campsites continues.
A postmortem was carried out on Phillips yesterday and his death has been referred to the coroner.
Detective Inspector Daryl Smith said the investigation team has worked tirelesslyin difficult conditions to examine multiple scenes since the critical incident on Monday morning.
“Police staff have spent the last three days canvassing the area, traversing some extremely difficult terrain, in dense bush,” Smith said.
“An examination of the located sites is continuing today and is expected to be completed tomorrow.”
A scene guard will remain in place overnight, as well as cordons along Te Anga Rd.
Smith said these cordons will be placed to ensure access to the local school tomorrow.
“I want to acknowledge and thank the locals for their patience and understanding throughout this period of disruption for them, especially the school for their co-operation this week,” he said.
Extra police staff deployed to the Marokopa and King Country areas remain in the district.
The officer injured on Monday remains in Waikato Hospital. Both the officer and his family are being provided ongoing support.
Tom Phillips evaded capture for nearly four years, despite multiple sightings.
Phillips was shot dead by police on Monday after four years on the run with his children.
In a stand-off, he shot a police officer multiple times. The officer is recovering in hospital.
Phillips was found on a quad bike with one of his children after a burglary at a farm store in Piopio. The child helped lead police to their siblings at a bush campsite.
Phillips had been on the run since December 2021, when he disappeared with his three children from their family farm in Marokopa. Jayda, Maverick and Ember were 8, 7 and 5 when they went into hiding. They are now 12, 10 and 9.
The children’s mother said that “they have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care”.
The children are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki.
A number of areas in western Waikato remain cordoned off as police process evidence.
Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021 as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei.
