The children's mother breathed a sigh of relief.
A father with three children was spotted in the wild in New Zealand for the first time in three years after his disappearance.
This was reported by Metro.
Tom Phillips, his daughter Jada, now 11, his son Maverick, nine, and his daughter Amber, eight, disappeared from the northern town of Marokpa in December 2021.
But new footage taken on October 3 shows the family, dressed in camouflage, walking in the hills outside their former town.
The children's mother, Catherine, said she was very happy to see that her children were still alive.
She told the New Zealand Herald: “I'm so happy they're all here. I feel such relief when I see all three of my children. They're all alive.”
Katherine has previously expressed concern that her children are in danger, accusing Phillips of “threatening the children's lives”. She said: “Amber is asthmatic, like me, and she needs medical care that can't be provided from the ground. Many of you are saying the children are fine and well looked after. How do you know that? Have you seen them? Or is that just talk? What Thomas is doing is wrong to divide and conquer, to isolate and control. It's child neglect, it's child abandonment, it's child abuse. My children deserve better.”
Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders confirmed the latest case was “credible”. He said: “While nothing further of significance has been found, investigators are now assessing the information gathered to determine the next steps. “This is the first time all three children have been seen, which is positive information and we know it will be reassuring for the children's entire family.”
Phillips and his three children first disappeared in September 2021, but returned to their farm 18 days later after living in a tent in dense bush. But a few months later they disappeared again, and were last seen on December 9, 2021.
The man failed to appear in court in January 2022 on charges of wasting police personnel and resources. He is also wanted for an alleged armed robbery of a bank in Te Kuiti in September 2023. The public has been warned not to approach him, despite at least 40 incidents being recorded which officers considered significant.
Inspector Saunders said he believed the father had been helped while he was on the run. He said: “Immunity from prosecution will be considered for anyone who committed an offence by assisting Tom Phillips if they provide information or evidence that leads to the whereabouts and safe return of the children.”
A Ukrainian family from Kherson went missing after Hurricane in the US. 41-year-old Anastasia, 40-year-old Dmitry and their 13-year-old son Evgeny have been missing since September 26. They have not been found yet.
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