Fugitive Father’s Family Makes Emotional Appeal for His Return and Safety of Three Missing Children in New Zealand Wilderness

The family of fugitive Thomas Callam Phillips, who has been elusive for nearly four years after disappearing with his three children deep in the New Zealand wilderness, has broken their silence.

Phillips and his children – Ember, Maverick, and Jayda, believed to be aged 9, 10, and 12 respectively – vanished in December 2021, leaving their mother without contact since then.

Authorities are gravely concerned about the welfare of these youngsters, with no confirmed sightings or reports despite extensive searches and appeals for assistance.

In an exclusive interview, Phillips’ sister Rozzi expressed her longing for her brother’s return, saying, “I miss you terribly… You are someone very special to me… I can’t wait to see you again.”

Rozzi also shared a heartfelt letter penned by their mother, pleading with her absent son. The letter, published by New Zealand news site Stuff, conveyed the mother’s anguish and yearning for her children: “Every day I wake up, I miss being part of your lives… I hope today will be the day you return.”

The whereabouts of Phillips remain unclear as he is believed to be living off-grid, utilizing his survival skills to provide for his family. In June 2022, New Zealand Police offered a NZD $80,000 ($52,000) reward for information leading to their location and safe return.

Phillips is wanted for multiple alleged crimes, most notably an armed bank robbery in May 2023, during which two individuals were captured on CCTV escaping with cash on a motorbike. Police later identified Phillips as the suspect, accompanied by an armed female accomplice.

In November 2023, Phillips and an unidentified child allegedly damaged a shop’s window at 2 a.m., before fleeing on a stolen quad bike. Additionally, Phillips has been observed on CCTV, wearing a mask, purchasing supplies from hardware stores.

“We know Tom has been sighted at retail locations across the Waikato region disguised with various masks,” police stated in a previous announcement.

When approached by CNN, New Zealand Police declined to provide any updates regarding the ongoing investigation. Authorities suspect that supporters are assisting Phillips in evading capture.

Rozzi reported no contact with her brother since his disappearance. Speaking out now, almost four years later, she expressed hope that her brother might see their appeals and return home: “I’m doing this in the faint hope that he may see it… Perhaps he will realize he can come home, and we are here for him.”

Last year, the children’s mother publicly pleaded for help in locating her offspring. In a moving Facebook post, she stated, “I am here today, begging for your help to bring my babies home… They are just innocent children.”

She emphasized Jayda’s need for her mother, stating, “Jayda is growing up now and needs her mother,” and expressed concern for Ember’s asthma and Maverick’s well-being. “What Thomas is doing is not right… My babies deserve better.”