Dad who vanished into wilderness with children killed by police with kids also found

The dad who vanished into the New Zealand wilderness with his three children four years ago has been killed by police, with his children having been found safe.

The case of Tom Phillips and his three children, Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, has gripped the world since their disappearance in September 2021, but it has finally come to an end following Phillips' death.

Four years ago, Phillips fled the area of New Zealand’s North Island of Marakopa with his children, but later showed up at his parents' farmhouse, leading to a charge for wasting police resources.

However, around three months later, the father and children disappeared again and when Phillips failed to turn up for his court appearance, an arrest warrant was issued.

Since then, there have been several reported sightings of Phillips, including some CCTV footage back in August; however, none of them paid off, until police said they were 'confident' that the footage captured outside of a small farm supply shop in Piopio, a small town in the Waitomo District, portrayed Phillips on 26 August.

This picture from 2023 is thought to show Tom Phillips and one of his children (NZ Police)

Early this morning, police responded to an alarm at the commercial property for an attempted robbery. According to authorities, two quad bikes were caught by spikes laid on the road by police, and when police arrived, they were shot at.

After one officer was shot in the head, leaving them alive but in a critical condition, a second officer returned fire, and the shooter was shot dead, dying at the scene.

Although police didn't officially identify Phillips, it is reported that his sister later confirmed it was him.

One of the children was with Phillips at the time and was unharmed in the ordeal. However, the search didn't end immediately there, as police were still unsure where two of his children were located, and only after another seven hours were they finally discovered at a remote bush campsite.

Police also confirmed that the child who was at the shooting had helped to provide information as to where they might be located.

According to the BBC, the two children at the campsite were 'cooperative', and police have informed their mother, Cat, and Phillips' parents of their discovery.

It is unknown if they are aware of their father's death, or if they will be returned to their mother's care.

Tom Phillips and his three children were also reportedly spotted in the wilderness back in October 2024 (YouTube/1News)

Deputy police commissioner Jill Rogers also thanked the community around Piopio for providing vital information, which helped to bring this near four-year search to an end.

She said: "These are small, rural and tight knit communities. They look after our people and we're very grateful for the support that they've provided this morning."

Meanwhile, district mayor John Robertson added: “It’s just been an awful tragedy, and it’s still open.

“It’s been frantic. Really shocking, tragic, everything... Now [we're] just thinking of the children and what's ahead of them. It's really hard, [and] very stressful."

The children's mother, Cat, has also now spoken out since the death of Tom Phillips.