One year on: Cop speaks out about missing Marokopa family

Friday, 9 September 2022

Waikato west area commander Will Loughrin talks about the police effort to find missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips and his 3 children. (Video first published 9 September 2022.)

Inspector Will Loughrin stood on the black sand of a remote Waikato beach peering at a ute abandoned below the tideline.

It was a blustery day, a year ago, when the grey Toyota Hilux was found facing into the waves. With a nod to convention, the keys were under the driver’s side mat.

The Waikato west area commander was one of the first at the desolate Kiritehere Beach on September 11, called to action because Thomas Phillips and his three children were missing.

Little did he know – a year later he would still be looking.

* Marokopa family go bush again, no search initiated by police

* Marokopa's vanishing dad not concerned about police charges, brother says

The coastal community rejoiced after the missing father, children Jayda, Maverick, and Ember re-appeared at the family farm safe and well.

Loughrin was sitting in his Huntly office when the phone rang. He was overcome with relief.

The family had spent 17 days in Marokopa’s dense bush, but weren’t found despite an intensive police-led land, sea and air search.

But less than three months later, Phillips and the children were gone. Again.

He left the family home in December, and didn’t reappear for Christmas or for his court appearance – on a charge of wasting police time and resources after the first search.

Waikato west area commander inspector Will Loughrin said he was constantly worried about Thomas Phillips’ children.

“That indicated to us that he’s intentionally left and has chosen to evade police.

“He’s planned this. He has gone off the grid completely, and he’s had support.”

It was disappointing, Loughrin said. But nothing surprised him any more.

“Straight away my heart went out to everybody involved and obviously knew that we had to resolve this and do everything we could, but it's proven to be quite complex.”

Police found his ute in late January. It was left parked on Mangatoa Rd near the Mangatoa Track, but officers searched the area and found no signs of the family.

Then Phillips returned to a family member's home in the middle of the night to take supplies in February.

He did not have the children with him, but reassured family they were well.

That was the last time he was seen.

“I’m always worried about the children’s wellbeing,” Loughrin said. He called their mother regularly, but said it was hard.

“I sense that she probably thinks when I’m ringing, maybe I’m ringing with good news.”

Instead, she was left disappointed. The children – now aged 9, 7, and 6 – were still missing.

The Phillips children, from left Ember, Jayda Jin and Maverick.

They had missed anniversaries, birthdays, and day-to-day interactions with the people who loved them.

'That’s upsetting, and I know it is for the team that is working really hard on this.

“And I know the kids don’t leave their mind when they are off duty, when you are doing other things – it’s really hard not to think of the children.”

Loughrin wouldn’t publicly comment about why Phillips' had fled, but said he was motivated to stay hidden and keep the children at his side.

Dense bush in Marokopa where Thomas Phillips and his kids first went missing.

“There are a lot of complexities.”

There was a matter before the family court that meant the custody status of the children could not be discussed.

Officers first thought Phillips might have gone back into Marokopa’s bush, Loughrin said.

They had spent a lot of time understanding Phillips and his background, well-aware that he was an experienced bushman and comfortable living off the grid.

They searched properties, the bush, and engaged with the community – but found nothing.

“What we were hearing is there have been no sightings in recent times of Tom, of the children, or even indicating that someone has left something behind, which you may see in the bush environment.”

“That’s why we came out to the public recently saying we need New Zealand to be our eyes and ears – because there is that possibility that Tom has left the area, and he could be in the north or South Island.”

They were now receiving information from across the country – which was all being followed up, he said.

But children grow quickly, and would look different. It was likely Phillips had also grown a beard.

“We just keep urging New Zealanders across the country that if something doesn’t look right, or someone’s story about how they’ve come to be there with three kids doesn't add up, and they have a similar appearance to Tom and the kids, then we need to hear about it.”

The children would likely not be attending school.

“But also if the public suspect that someone could be helping Tom then we would like to know.

“We strongly believe that Tom has been getting assistance from the very beginning.”

If he could say something to Phillips, it would be to do the right thing.

“To think about his parents, they are suffering big time, they just want to see him and the children safe and well.”

It was not about the court case, or a matter before the family court. That was something to be dealt with later, Loughrin said.

“We want to resolve this and bring the kids home safely.”