Authorities said that three children in New Zealand are “doing well” after they were found with their fugitive father, Thomas Phillips, who was shot to death after being on the run with them for four years.
Phillips disappeared with his children, Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, in December 2021 following an alleged dispute with their mother, Cat. It was believed that he and the kids were hiding in the wilderness, while New Zealand Police confirmed Phillips had been fatally shot on Monday, September 8, in Waikato following a suspected burglary.
While one of the children was with Phillips at the time of the incident, the other two were also found “unharmed” and are “now safe,” according to a news release shared on September 8.
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Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers shared a following update about the children on Tuesday, September 9, and revealed they’re in the care of Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children), according to People.
“I want to assure the community here in the Waikato, and also the wider public of New Zealand, that my team here in this region have been planning and preparing for the return of these children from when they went missing,” Warwick Morehu, Oranga Tamariki and Whānau Services Regional Commissioner Waikato and Bay of Plenty, said in an additional statement obtained by People.
“I can confirm the children had a settled night, they are doing well under the circumstances and engaging with the staff supporting them.”
Morehu continued, “Going forward, I have an experienced and dedicated team of staff assigned to this, they are prepped and ready to respond to whatever needs these children might have.”
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“We are joined up with our partner agencies across the children’s system to respond to those needs,” he said. “We have clinical professionals who’ve put their hands up to assist if required. I want to assure you that these children will be provided with whatever help or assistance they may need, for however long they may need it.”
After noting that the young children experienced an “unprecedented set of circumstances,” he said that everyone “is doing their best to ensure we can return them to some of form of a normal daily life.”
“We don’t know exactly what that looks like yet, or how long that may take, we will be guided by the needs of these children,” Morehu concluded, asking that people respect the children’s privacy despite the “huge public interest” in the case.
After the children were found safe, their mother told RNZ that she was “deeply relieved that for our (children) this ordeal has come to an end.”
“They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care,” she said. “At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today. Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved.”
