New photographs have been released by police of a second campsite believed to have been used by a New Zealand father who disappeared with his children four years ago.
In 2021, Tom Phillips went missing along with his three children, Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, who were eight, seven, and five years old at the time they disappeared.
On Monday, September 8, authorities announced that Phillips had been killed during a shootout with police in Marokopa, a small town situated on the west coast of New Zealand’s Waikato region.
Police were responding to a report of a burglary at a small farm supply shop early in the morning. Upon arrival, they encountered two individuals, Phillips and one of his children, on quad bikes, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
One officer sustained a critical head injury, while another officer returned fire. Phillips was declared dead at the scene, and the child with him was detained. Following a search, officials later located his other two children unharmed.
On Tuesday, September 9, police unveiled photos of the suspected hideout site of Phillips and his children, along with another campsite they believe was utilized.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders shared with the media that the area was ‘difficult to access, well-hidden’ and highlighted the challenging environment used by the family as their base.
He stated, “It’s a very grim, dimly-lit area, surrounded by dense bush. The tent was well covered and dry. We are currently looking at a number of items at the site. Aside from the burglaries we are now able to link to Tom, it is apparent that he had outside help.”
The campsite images reveal a shelter apparently constructed from tree branches and other materials, alongside a portable gas stove and gas bottle.
There were also empty gin and iced coffee bottles scattered around, which Detective Saunders remarked made the campsite ‘not very nice for children’.
“It’s not a camping trip for a couple of nights. It’s very dirty, cramped conditions,” he added.
Detective Saunders mentioned that authorities suspect Phillips had ‘multiple sites’, and they are continuing their investigation to locate these additional areas.
He expressed gratitude to those who aided in the children’s recovery during an investigation named Operation Curly.
“Operation Curly was an operation focused on locating Tom and the safe return of the children,” he stated. “As the police work enters a new phase, our Operation Curly naturally comes to a conclusion. While no one wanted it to end in these circumstances, it is highly satisfying as an investigator that the children have been safely returned.”