Fugitive Father, Who Hid in the Wilderness with His 3 Kids for Nearly 4 Years, Dies in Police Shootout By Charlotte Phillipp

Tom Phillips, the fugitive New Zealand father who hid in the wilderness with his three children for nearly four years, died after a shootout with police.

According to CNN, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) and ABC News Australia, New Zealand Police said that officers were alerted to a possible break-in to a farm goods store at around 2:30 a.m. local time on Monday, Sept. 8, in Poipoi — a small town with a population of about 450, located in the country’s western Waikato district in the North Island, close to where Tom is believed to have been hiding out with his kids.

Tom’s sister, Rozzi Phillips, confirmed to RNZ that he had died, though police said a formal identification has yet to take place. One of the three children is now in police custody, officials said, while the other two remain missing.

Tom disappeared with his three children — Jayda, Maverick and Ember, now believed to be ages 9, 10 and 12 — after an alleged dispute with their mother in 2021, per police.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers told reporters on Sept. 8 that when officers learned that two people riding a four-wheeled bike were spotted near the scene of the burglary, they suspected they could be Tom and one of the children and set up spikes on a nearby street.

“Knowing the information that we’d previously had that seen Tom Phillips also in this area, additional staff were called out and responded to that location,” Rogers said, per RNZ.

Soon after, the bike ran over the spikes, and the two people came to a stop, police said.

“A short time later, the first attending police officer at that scene has come across that stopped quad bike and been confronted by gunfire at close range,” Rogers said.

The officer was struck in the head and took cover. Another police officer arrived at the scene and shot at Tom, and the injured officer was airlifted to a nearby hospital to undergo surgery. The child was not injured in the shooting.

Rogers said that police were making “urgent inquiries” to locate Tom’s other children, as they have “serious concerns for” their safety.

“We are actively seeking them as we speak,” she said.

“This has been a deeply traumatic incident this morning for those involved. It has been confronting and challenging in a small, rural, isolated location,” Rogers said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders added: “It’s not the outcome we wanted, but we’ve got one child out safely, and our focus now is really finding the other children, getting them out safely.”

Authorities believe Tom and the children had been living off the grid, with Tom using survival skills to feed and clothe them. NBC News reported that Tom did not have legal custody rights for his children.

Despite massive searches, reported sightings of Tom and the children, and even a reward of $80,000 New Zealand dollars ($52,000) for information about their whereabouts, the group was missing for nearly four years.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.   

During his time on the run, Tom is alleged to have committed a series of crimes, including a robbery in the Waikato region, according to New Zealand police.

In October 2024, Tom was spotted with his children by pig hunters, who filmed the group on remote North Island, New Zealand Police said.

Two weeks ago, authorities released CCTV footage from a break-in at a business in Piopio that was believed to show Tom and one of the children, per a police news release.

Related Stories

Fugitive Father Hiding in Wilderness with His 3 Kids Since 2021 Appears to Break Into Rural Town Store in New Footage

A Fugitive Dad Vanished Into the Wilderness with His 3 Kids: Here’s What His Family Has to Say to Him

Tom was facing “a range of charges, including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawful possession of a firearm,” officials said.

“At the heart of this are three children who have been away from their home for four years. Their well-being is our main focus,” Detective Senior Sergeant Saunders said at the time, per the news release.

Following the Sept. 8 developments, the children’s mother, Cat, said she was “relieved this ordeal had come to an end” for her kids.

“[The children] have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care,” she told Mata, per RNZ.

“At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today,” she continued. “Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved.”

“We also extend our aroha [a Māori word partly meaning love and compassion] to those in the community who have been affected, and our heartfelt gratitude to the many people who have supported us over these past four years,” she said. “Your compassion has sustained us.”

Cat also spoke about her hopes for the other two children to be found and returned home safely, as well as the child who is now in police custody.

“They have endured a long and difficult journey, and we ask for privacy as we help them adjust and reintegrate into a stable and loving environment,” she said.