In a heart-wrenching twist to New Zealand’s most gripping saga, the three children of slain fugitive Tom Phillips—Jayda, Maverick, and Ember—have unleashed a shocking accusation against their mother, Cat. On September 11, 2025, the children, aged 12, 10, and 9, told authorities, “Our mother is a liar—she’s the reason we had to run away with Dad!” The explosive claim, reported by NZ Herald, has ignited a firestorm, coming days after Phillips’ death in a police shootout on September 8, 2025, in Piopio. Fans on X (#PhillipsKidsSpeak) are reeling, questioning if Cat’s actions drove the family into the Waikato wilderness.

The children, now in Oranga Tamariki care, allege Cat’s “manipulative lies” about Phillips’ fitness as a father sparked the 2021 custody dispute that led to their four-year ordeal. “She wanted to take us away,” Jayda reportedly said, claiming their flight was to “stay together as a family.” Phillips, 38, took his children into hiding after losing custody, surviving in remote campsites with reported outside help. The accusation echoes claims by Phillips’ sister, Rozzi, who previously accused Cat of wanting “Tom dead, not the kids back.” Cat, devastated, insists she fought tirelessly for their return, tearfully pleading on RNZ, “I’m their mother.”

Social media is split—some believe the children’s loyalty reflects Phillips’ influence, others see Cat as a scapegoat in a tragic tale. Police photos of a campsite, revealed September 10, show a grim existence, intensifying debate: Were the kids brainwashed, or is Cat hiding a darker truth? As investigations probe Phillips’ accomplices, the children’s words fuel a national storm. Is this a family betrayed or a mother wronged?