The case of children hidden in the woods for four years: the first pictures in the improvised camp of the fugitive father
New Zealand police published the first pictures with one of the shelters where Tom Phillips hid his three children for almost four years. The case continues to raise questions, despite the fact that the man was killed in a fire exchange on Monday.
The children hidden in the woods for four years photo: Archive
Two of Tom Phillips's children were found in a hiding place in the Waikato region on Monday after their father was shot dead by the police. The third child, who was with Phillips at the time of confrontation, helped to locate his sisters.
The officers said the minors “they feel good ”but their emotional and psychological recovery will be lasting.
Tom Phillips fled in 2021 together with the two daughters and his son, now estimated at 9, 10 and 12 years old. He had disappeared on the northern island of New Zealand, after losing the custody of the children following the divorce.
Pictures from the improvised camp
The police have made pictures of one of the camps where the family hid. This is about 2 kilometers from where Phillips was killed. In the pictures there are an ATV, doses of doses thrown and several firearms found nearby.
“The investigative teams check the areas where the family stayed and discussed with the farmers, locals and workers in the area. This approach is intended to help us build a clear picture of Tom Phillips's movements and children”Explained the interim deputy commissioner Jill Rogers.
The criminals were sent to the scene to gather evidence.
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The shelters of children discovered by the police in New Zealand Photo: NZ Police
The condition of the children and the policeman injured
Jill Rogers also stated that the little ones cooperate with the investigators: “Our staff described the children as cooperating and talked easily with our team, who offered them snacks and drinks while waiting to be removed from the camp ”.
Currently, they are in the care of Oranga Tamariki – the Children's Ministry of New Zealand. “V.Man continued to work closely with them, paying the time and attention needed after the ordeal they went through ”added Rogers.
The policeman also offered an update on the injured colleague in confrontation: “The officer has a long way to recovery. We will be with him and his family at every step”.
The questions left unanswered
Over the years, the police have made numerous calls for finding Phillips, but he managed to hide. Some surveillance cameras surprised him by committing the thefts, but there were few clear information about the place where he was with the children.
A detective confirmed that, in 2024, the man no longer had legal custody rights. However, it remains unclear how he managed to avoid the police for years, despite national searches, and how he had access to weapons.
“They saw things that children should not see”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell stressed that the priority of the authorities is now the safety of the three children: “Our priority is to make sure that these children are cared for and that there is a careful plan, in which everyone is involved at the right time”.
He added: “They saw and were exposed to things that the children in our country should not see. “
