Mother of Missing Marokopa Children Breaks Silence, Pleads for Public’s Help

The mother of three missing children has issued an emotional plea to the public, asking for help to bring her children home after two and a half years in hiding with their father, Tom Phillips.

The case of the missing Marokopa family has gripped New Zealand since late 2021, and a fresh appeal comes as police continue to search the King Country area, where they believe the children are being concealed.

A Birthday Overshadowed

Speaking through a video released by police, the children’s mother, Cat, marked her daughter’s 11th birthday with a heartbreaking message.

“She will be a young woman now and she needs her mother,” Cat said, her voice filled with emotion. The milestone, instead of being a celebration, underscored the painful absence of Ember, Maverick, and Jayda, who have been missing since September 2021.

Police last week renewed efforts to locate the children by offering an $80,000 reward for information leading to their recovery. Despite occasional sightings, including a confirmed report earlier this month, the family remains elusive.

An Appeal to the Public

Cat’s statement was a direct plea to New Zealanders, especially those in the Marokopa and King Country areas where Phillips is believed to be hiding.

“They are just innocent children. They do not deserve to be treated this way. They do not deserve the life that is being provided to them right now,” she said.

Her remarks were pointed, challenging community members who believe the children are safe in their father’s care.

“Many of you say that the children are fine, that they’re being well looked after. How do you know? Have you seen them? Or is it just bush talk?” she asked.

Concerns for Health and Wellbeing

Cat highlighted the specific health concerns of her daughter Ember, who suffers from asthma and requires regular medical treatment.

“She needs medical care that cannot be provided from the land,” Cat said.

She also voiced worries about her son, Maverick. “I can only imagine how Maverick is coping with the hand that life has dealt to him,” she said, underscoring the emotional toll that years of isolation could be having on the boy.

For Jayda, turning 11 in hiding without access to her mother or wider family only compounds the distress.

Criticism of Estranged Husband

In her most forceful remarks, Cat accused her estranged husband Tom Phillips of child neglect, endangerment, abandonment, and abuse.

“What Thomas is doing is not okay. It is not okay to divide and conquer. It is not okay to isolate and endanger. None of this is okay. My babies deserve better,” she said.

Phillips, who disappeared with the children in 2021 after briefly resurfacing, has been the subject of a police manhunt ever since. Authorities allege he has engaged in burglaries to sustain himself and the children while living off the grid.

Police Appeal

Police continue to urge the public to come forward with any information about the family’s whereabouts. Inspector Andrew Berry, who has overseen parts of the investigation, reiterated that even small details could prove crucial.

“This case has been extremely difficult for everyone involved, but our priority remains the safe return of the children,” Berry said last week when the reward was announced. “We know there are people in the community who have information, and we ask them to do the right thing.”

Despite extensive searches, including air and ground operations, Phillips and the children have managed to evade capture, aided, police believe, by supporters providing food, shelter, or silence.

A Community Divided

The case has divided opinion in the King Country. Some locals view Phillips sympathetically, describing him as a capable survivalist protecting his children from the system. Others condemn his actions as reckless and dangerous, pointing to the children’s lack of medical care, education, and contact with their mother.

Cat’s heartfelt appeal sought to cut through that divide. “My babies deserve better,” she repeated, reminding the public that the children’s welfare should be the central concern.

The Road Ahead

As the search stretches into its third year, the pressure is mounting on police and the public alike. The $80,000 reward remains active, but without cooperation from those who may be helping Phillips, authorities acknowledge the case will remain challenging.

For Cat, however, the message is simple: her children need to come home. “They are just innocent children,” she said again in her appeal. “They do not deserve this.”

Conclusion

The disappearance of Ember, Maverick, and Jayda Phillips remains one of New Zealand’s most troubling missing persons cases. With each passing milestone — birthdays, holidays, the beginning of school years — the weight of their absence grows heavier.

As their mother speaks out once more, she reminds the nation of the human toll behind the headlines: three children cut off from their family, their health and wellbeing at risk, and a parent desperate for their safe return.

Whether the $80,000 reward or renewed appeals will finally break the wall of silence remains to be seen. But Cat’s words leave no doubt: she will not stop until her children are home.