Fugitive Father Identified in CCTV Footage After 4-Year Wilderness Hideout with Three Children, Police Offer Reward for Info

In a significant development, New Zealand authorities have released CCTV footage that potentially identifies a fugitive father and his offspring, who have eluded capture in the country’s remote wilderness for nearly four years. The suspect, Thomas Callam Phillips, is believed to have taken his three children—Jayda, Maverick, and Ember—from their home in Marokopa on the North Island and gone underground since then.

The footage was released last Friday by the New Zealand Police, depicting two masked individuals unloading groceries from a quadbike outside a retail store approximately 35 miles away in Piopio. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, just prior to a burglary at the same location.

Investigations are underway to determine any connection between the CCTV footage and Phillips, with the store being one of several believed to have been targeted by him. According to Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders, “We suspect that the pair in this footage could be Tom and one of his children.” The duo were reportedly present for 13 minutes, arriving and departing on a quadbike.

Authorities believe that Phillips and his children have been living off-grid, with the father utilizing his survival skills to sustain, house, and clothe his offspring. They also suspect that supporters are aiding him in evading capture. A reward of 80,000 New Zealand dollars ($52,000) was offered by the police last June for any information leading to their location and safe return.

Phillips is accused of committing several crimes, including an armed robbery at a bank in May 2023, where two individuals were seen on closed-circuit television fleeing with cash on a motorbike. He currently faces multiple charges, including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

His sister Rozzi Phillips, in her first interview since his disappearance, expressed deep emotion about his absence, stating, “I miss you, and I miss being part of your life. You’re very special to me… I really want to see you again.” She disclosed that she has had no contact with him since he vanished.

In a handwritten letter to her missing son, their mother expressed her longing, stating, “It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here, thinking what could have been if you had not gone away.” The children’s mother, identified as Cat, made an emotional appeal last year on Facebook, urging anyone with information about their whereabouts to contact the police.

In a statement on Friday, Detective Senior Sergeant Saunders reiterated the authorities’ focus on the wellbeing of the three children, stating, “At the heart of this are three children who have been away from their home for four years. Their wellbeing is our main concern.”