Police investigate remote New Zealand scene where fugitive father was killed and missing children were found. Image credit: New Zealand Police
PIOPIO, New Zealand (EPICSTORIAN) — A fugitive father who hid with his children in the New Zealand wilderness was shot dead in a confrontation with police.
The children were found safe, ending a four-year search that gripped the country and drew global attention.
Police confirm fugitive father killed
Police said Thomas Callam Phillips was confronted in the Waikato region early Monday after reports of a break-in.
A police officer was wounded when shot in the head at close range with a high-powered rifle.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed that the suspected gunman was shot and killed during the confrontation.
Formal identification is pending, but police believe the deceased man is fugitive father Tom Phillips.
His sister, Rozzi Phillips, confirmed his death to RNZ.
Children of fugitive father recovered
One child was found immediately after the incident near the stopped quad bike used in the attempted escape.
Two more children were located later that day at a campsite in the remote Marokopa bushland.
“They are with police officers now, and are being removed from that location,” Rogers told reporters.
She said the children were “well and uninjured” and were taken for medical checks Monday evening.
Mother expresses relief after years of absence
The children’s mother, known as Cat, released a statement through CNN affiliate RNZ.
She said she was “deeply relieved” that the ordeal had ended and the children were safe.
“They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care,” she said.
She also expressed sadness at the circumstances of the confrontation.
Long search for fugitive father and children
Phillips first disappeared with his children in September 2021, sparking extensive land and sea searches.
They resurfaced weeks later at a family property, but vanished again in December 2021 after Phillips faced charges for wasting police time.
Authorities said Phillips relied on survival skills to keep his family off-grid in the wilderness.
Despite numerous sightings and appeals for information, their location remained a mystery for nearly four years.
Police officer critically wounded
The confrontation unfolded near Piopio, a rural town of less than 500 people in the Waikato region.
Police deployed road spikes after spotting a quad bike leaving a store break-in with two people on board.
The vehicle stopped after hitting spikes, and gunfire erupted when an officer approached.
The officer was shot in the head but survived by taking cover in his car.
He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital and required multiple surgeries for serious but survivable injuries.
History of alleged crimes
Phillips was linked to multiple alleged crimes during his years in hiding.
In May 2023, two people escaped on a motorbike after an armed bank robbery, believed to involve Phillips.
Charges against him included aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Last year police offered a reward of 80,000 New Zealand dollars for information leading to his capture.
Community impact of fugitive father case
The disappearance of Phillips and his children became one of New Zealand’s most widely followed cases.
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Each new sighting prompted renewed searches and widespread media coverage.
The children, Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, are now in the care of authorities as the investigation continues.
