A mother has shared her theory after her children were finally spotted in the wilderness with their father after having disappeared years earlier.
A father and his three young children, who vanished from the remote New Zealand town of Marokopa in late 2021, may have been seen for the first time in nearly three years late last year, per The Guardian.
The footage is believed to show Tom Phillips and his children (Jayda, now 11, Maverick, nine, and Ember, eight), reigniting hope and concern in equal measure.
The grainy video, captured by hunters on October 3, 2024, near their former hometown, shows the group dressed in camouflage walking through rugged terrain, Metro reports.
While the sighting has not been fully confirmed, police say the footage is credible.
The children's mother, Catherine, who has been searching for them since their disappearance, expressed both relief and unease after seeing the video.
In an emotional interview, she speculated that one of her children may have attempted a subtle plea for help when interacting with the hunters.
According to one of the boys who encountered the group, a girl (believed to be Jayda) responded vaguely when questioned: “I said, ‘This is private property,’ and she was like, ‘Yeah… duh.’ Then I asked, ‘Does anyone know you're on here?’ and she said, ‘No, just you guys.’”
Catherine believes those words may have carried deeper meaning. “Is that a cry for help? Is that her way of saying, ‘Does anyone know where we are? Is anyone coming for us?’” she said.
“It’s like she’s trying to say something without saying it directly, maybe out of fear, because her father was standing right there.”
Though grateful her children appear to be alive, Catherine remains deeply concerned for their wellbeing. Ember, she noted, suffers from asthma and needs medical attention that can’t be provided while living off-grid.
“What Thomas is doing is not okay,” she previously told the New Zealand Herald. “It’s not okay to isolate and control. This is child neglect, child endangerment, child abuse. My babies deserve better.”
The family’s initial disappearance occurred in September 2021, when Phillips and the children were found camping in dense bushland. After returning home 18 days later, they vanished again that December. Since then, sightings have been rare, with the October footage marking the first time all three children have reportedly been seen together.
Tom Phillips, now also wanted in connection with an armed robbery of a bank in Te Kuiti in September 2023, failed to appear in court in early 2022 on charges of wasting police resources related to the initial disappearance, CNN details.
Police continue to investigate and have cautioned the public not to approach Phillips, who is considered potentially dangerous. Authorities have received at least 40 credible tips about the family’s whereabouts.
Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders confirmed the video is under active review. “While nothing further of significance was located, this is a credible sighting and the first time all three children have been seen together. That is a positive step and will bring some reassurance to their extended family,” he said.
Saunders added that investigators believe Phillips has been aided by others during his time on the run. “We are willing to consider immunity from prosecution for anyone who has helped him, if they now come forward with information that leads to the safe return of the children,” he said.
The case continues to grip New Zealand as authorities and loved ones seek answers, and hope for a safe resolution.