Police offer $80k reward in search for wanted Marokopa man’s children
Tuesday, 11 June 2024
Police are offering $80,000 for information that leads to the safe return of a wanted man’s three children.
Jayda, Maverick and Ember Phillips have been missing since December 12 2021, when they were taken by their father Tom Phillips.
There is a warrant for Philips’ arrest.
Police are offering $80,000 for information that leads to the location and safe return of missing children Jayda, Maverick and Ember Phillips.
The children, now aged 8, 9 and 10, are that of wanted man Tom Phillips.
The children have been missing since December 12 2021, and police said no credible sightings of the children or their father had been reported for two months.
“Our concern is that we haven’t seen them for two and half years,” Acting Detective Inspector Andy Saunders said in a news conference on Tuesday. “We want people to know these are not the actions of a good father.”
Police have publicly shared that Phillips does not have legal custody of his children.
Police said the children were taken by their father, Tom Phillips, “to a location unknown but thought to be in western Waikato within Marokopa or the surrounding areas”.
He is thought to have robbed a bank in Te Kūiti in May last year and broken into a shop in Piopio in November, possibly with one of his children.
There was a warrant for Phillips’ arrest, and he faces charges in relation to aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm as a result of a criminal investigation separate to the missing persons investigation.
“Police have concerns for the welfare of the children who have been living in isolation for the past two-and-a-half years, with no connection to others and without formal education and health care,” Saunders said.
Saunders said on Tuesday police had deployed a team to Marokopa as part of a “new phase” of the investigation.
“Police will be visible in the community over the coming days and we encourage anyone with credible knowledge of the whereabouts of the Phillips children and who is prepared to assist the investigation team to make themselves known to our officers.
“We believe that Tom and the children are being assisted and we’re urging anyone who’s doing this to please stop, do the right thing and tell police what you know.
“We are committed to finding these children and we’re willing to take the step of offering a reward if it will prove the tipping point to help people put the children’s welfare first.”
The reward of up to $80,000 will be paid for material information or evidence that leads to the location and safe return of the children.
Saunders said police had an expectation that “significant information” would be made available following the offer of the reward.
The Commissioner of Police would determine the amount of the reward and would portion it if there was more than one claimant.
“Immunity against prosecution will be considered for anyone who has committed an offence in assisting Tom Phillips, if they provide information or evidence which leads to the location and safe return of the children.”
The offer remained in force until June 25.
Information could be provided by contacting 105, quoting the file number 211218/5611, or by emailing op.curly@police.govt.nz.
Police considered Phillips to be armed and said he should not be approached. Sightings can be reported to police by calling 111.