As the four -year hunt for New Zealand unfolded

On September 11, 2021, Tom Philips and his three children were missing.

His Toyota Hilux was found parked under the tide line on the beach near his parents’ house in Maracopa on the Northern Island of New Zealand. Police launched a large -scale search operation on the ground, sea and air.

In less than three weeks, the family returned home and the father claimed they were on the campaign.

Then, on December 12 of the same year, they disappeared again. In addition to several random observations and cereals, CCTV, Bushman and his three children have not been noticed since.

By the early o’clock in the morning on Monday, when the police responded to the report of the theft, he entered the departure, which resulted in the death of Mr Philips, completing a four -year analysis.

There are many questions about his disappearance, including why he took his children and disappeared into the harsh desert of New Zealand, and whether he can shy away from capture for so long, helping.

When Mr. Philips returned home in 2021, he was accused of spending police resources. Search efforts over the harsh, relentless landscape of the Western region of Vaytom cost the authorities of New Zealand hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Police did not start a fresh search for the second time he and his three children – Amber, Maverik and Jaida, at the age of five, seven and eight, respectively, went missing.

If he did not appear in court on January 12, 2022, police issued an arrest warrant.

Mr. Philips returned to his family house at night to collect deliveries on February 9 of the same year.

Then he was not seen for more than a year.

Police said in the past they believed that Mr. Philips took their children – now nine, 10 and 12 years – for the dispute about the care with the mother, though he never offered any explanation why he did.

As you know, Mr. Philips was Bushman, who was undergoing survival. The locals in the sailor stated that he was a man who wanted to leave the network and was not on any social media platforms.

Police believed that he and his children survived in a dense desert, which surrounded the maracope.

But it seems that Mr Philips and his children could not survive in the bush only on his mind.

Between August to November 2023, there were a number of observations around Kauhia, including several alleged robberies, as well as in the equipment and square bicycles store.

CCTV shot at this time showed Mr. Philips and one of his children – both in camouflage and masks on the faces – trying to break into the store in Piopio, southwest of Morocopa, police said.

When on Monday, Mr. Philips was shot dead, police said she found several firearms on her four -air bike.

Earlier, police said they believed that Mr Philips assisted in his evasion.

When he was suspected of robbing a bank in Tekiti, a small city in the Vaytom region, police said there was an accomplice.

Less than 100 people live in a close Maracop community. Although there were no suggestions for his family to help him, given the dispute about the care, questions arose about whether someone who helps him helps, remain hidden or knew about his location.

In June 2024, police issued an award of $ 80,000 (37,200 pounds) for information that could lead to Mr Philips and his three children. The deadline has expired without any breakthroughs.

The following was in October. A group of pig hunters, who walked around the bush around the maracope, noticed them and filmed a short meeting on their phones.

Mr Philips could see on the grain shots of Mr. Philips how their children in solid terrain, all in the disguised clothing, cloaks and large backpacks.

New Zealand media reported that teenagers talked to one of their children for a short time to ask if he knew. The child replied “only you” and continued to walk, the father of one of the teenagers told 1news New Zealand.

Observation caused unsuccessful three -day search involving police and army helicopters. Police said last month that it feels that the aggressive search was the wrong approach, because, according to them, Mr. Philips is armed and considered dangerous.

He was not seen again by the end of August this year, when he and one of his children were captured by CCTV, which allegedly invaded the store into Piopio, breaking out the grocery items.

It was Piopio to which he returned on Monday morning. It was at about 2:30 local time (14:30 GMT on Sunday) that the police reported in an attempt to steal agriculture in the agricultural store, which police believed that Mr Philips was unsuccessful earlier.

A charming bike, which was transported by two people, was spotted towards Maracop. Police put spikes along the road, and when they stopped a four -year bike, the officers said they were met with a gun.

Police said the first officer who reached the scene was shot dead and he remained in a serious condition. The second officer returned the fire, and Mr. Philips died at the scene, police said.

The child who was with him was not damaged and gave the police information that led them to two other children who were in a remote camping in the bush between Morocop and TEA in almost freezing conditions, police said.

Children – whose well -being has caused the main concern in New Zealand throughout their disappearance – are now looked after by the authorities.