Investigators have new theory in case of man who vanished into wilderness with his three children four years ago

Investigators have a new theory in the case of the man who vanished with his three children.

Almost four years ago, Tom Phillips took Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, nine, into the New Zealand wilderness and disappeared.

There has been a handful of sightings since they went AWOL on 9 December 2021 but their whereabouts remain unknown as his family recently issued a fresh plea.

Phillips doesn’t have legal custody of his children and he went off with them after a dispute with their mum, Cat.

He had vanished with them for 19 days a few weeks before that but eventually returned, facing charges and a court date (which he disappeared again before). A warrant was issued for his arrest, but investigators are still working to track them down.

Investigators reckon there's been a woman who helped him (NZ Police)

Private investigator Chris Budge has visited the area where it’s thought Philips is hiding a number of times, as he said he’s been ‘pushing for negotiations’ for three years.

Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders recently suggested the police were open to discussions with the dad to try and bring the children home.

“Let's work out a negotiation, and let's get everyone out of there safely,” he said. “We're willing to negotiate with anyone who is actually helping Tom and in communication with him.”

And Budge reckons there is someone that has helped Phillips, an unknown woman.

He and other sources told the Mail they reckon the missing man has been hiding in a house or outbuilding.

Lance Burdett is a former police detective inspector and senior crisis negotiator who runs a security consultancy and has spent time talking to the dad’s parents.

“There's information that he has a new partner who has been helping him – it's unconfirmed but it makes sense,” he said, explaining this theory.

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

“I think he is living in a house and people are giving him information because you can't do nearly four years and not have help and live solely in the bush.

“This is not a movie, it's reality.”

Phillips’ sister Rozzi recently issued a plea to him, as she said there isn’t a day when she doesn’t think about the four of them.

"Maybe he's going to see this, and maybe he's going to get to see that he can come home, and that we are here for him, and it might just be OK," she told journalist Paddy Gower for New Zealand outlet Stuff.

"There's a lot of love and there's a lot of support, and we're ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through.

"I miss you, and I miss being part of your life, and I really want to see you and the kids and be part of your lives again. You're very special to me.”