Chilling Remark Fugitive’s Daughter Made to Police During Search for Missing Siblings

For four years, New Zealand authorities searched the dense and unforgiving King Country wilderness for fugitive father Tom Phillips and his three children. Last week, the saga reached a tragic turning point when Phillips was confirmed dead at a remote campsite. But it was a chilling remark from his eldest daughter, 12-year-old Jayda, that provided police with the vital clue needed to recover her younger siblings safely.

A Family Vanishes

The disappearance began in 2021, when Phillips fled into the wilderness with his children — Jayda, then eight, Maverick, six, and Ember, just five. The move followed an alleged dispute with his ex-wife, Cat, who held legal custody of the children.

In the years that followed, Phillips and the children became ghosts in the King Country region. Authorities believed they were moving between hidden campsites, surviving off the land, and occasionally stealing supplies. At least one CCTV video, showing Phillips and a child during a robbery in Piopio, confirmed suspicions that the family had resorted to crime while on the run.

Despite public appeals, rare sightings, and widespread searches, the group managed to evade capture for years. Many locals began to see Phillips not only as a fugitive father but as a dangerous man capable of endangering his children.

The Tragic Ending

Last week, the manhunt reached its climax. Police located Phillips at a campsite deep in the bush. Details remain murky, but by the time officers arrived, Phillips was pronounced dead at the scene. His eldest child, Jayda, was with him but physically unharmed.

Her rescue, however, would prove pivotal — not just for her own safety but for the survival of her younger siblings, Maverick and Ember.

Jayda’s Chilling Revelation

When Jayda was taken into custody, police described her as “cooperative.” But it was one remark that chilled investigators and underscored the danger of the situation. She told officers there were firearms at the campsite where her siblings were staying.

That detail instantly changed the course of the recovery mission.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers explained the situation in an interview with RNZ: “She provided vital information to ensure a safe approach.” He added that the warning about firearms was crucial, as it allowed police to prepare for a potentially volatile encounter.

On Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast, Chambers elaborated: “It took a while to ensure that the children were safely recovered, but we had to take that approach because we knew that there were firearms present. We could not risk anything playing out that might compromise the safety of those children or my staff.”

The Search for Maverick and Ember

Guided by Jayda’s information, police carefully closed in on the campsite where Maverick and Ember were believed to be staying. The operation required patience and precision. Authorities had to confirm not only the location but also that the children could be reached without sparking confrontation.

The process was tense. Officers knew that one wrong move could put the children in danger, especially if firearms were within reach.

Eventually, thanks to Jayda’s directions and the tactical planning of the recovery team, Maverick and Ember were found alive and safe. The siblings were reunited with authorities after four long years of uncertainty.

A Life on the Run

Commissioner Chambers also shed light on the lifestyle Phillips and his children had endured while in hiding. He revealed that the family had been “moving around this very vast region frequently” rather than staying in one place. Campsites were temporary, often abandoned as quickly as they were set up, in what appeared to be a deliberate effort to avoid detection.

While details of their day-to-day existence remain scarce, evidence suggests they relied heavily on survivalist methods, supplemented by theft and possibly assistance from sympathizers. For the children, it meant an isolated and unstable upbringing, cut off from formal education, healthcare, and family support.

The Aftermath

The death of Tom Phillips and the safe recovery of his children mark both an end and a beginning. For authorities, the case closes one of New Zealand’s most unusual and protracted fugitive hunts in recent memory. For the children, however, the ordeal is far from over.

They must now begin the difficult process of reintegration — re-entering society after years in hiding, coping with the trauma of losing their father, and navigating the complexities of family custody. Support services are expected to play a central role in their recovery.

For the public, the case raises troubling questions about how Phillips managed to elude capture for so long, and what motivated his decision to take his children into the wilderness in the first place.

A Story That Gripped a Nation

For four years, the story of Tom Phillips captivated and divided New Zealanders. To some, he was a desperate father fighting a custody battle; to others, he was a reckless fugitive endangering his own children.

Now, with Phillips dead and his children safe, the nation is left to reflect on a saga that blended tragedy, survival, and the resilience of three young siblings. And it is Jayda’s chilling but crucial remark about the firearms — delivered at just the right moment — that ensured her brother and sister could be brought home alive.