2 missing children finally found hours after police shot their dad dead
By BBC, September 8, 2025New Zealand police have found the two missing children of fugitive Tom Phillips, who was killed in western Waikato early on Monday.
Phillips had been on the run with his three children for almost four years in the wilderness until he was fatally shot by police officers who were responding to an armed robbery.
One of the children was with Phillips and was unharmed. That child assisted police in locating their siblings as officers conducted a massive hunt.
Mother’s Reaction
Their mother says she’s “saddened” by the events but also “deeply relieved” that her children’s “ordeal has come to an end”.
A Case That Gripped the Nation
The case has gripped the attention of New Zealand for years – here’s a look back at how the story unfolded.
With Phillips’ death, there remain many unanswered questions, says our reporter Vandhna Bhan, who covered the case when it began in 2021.