Video: Fugitive Father Missing with His 3 Kids Since 2021 Spotted Hiking in Remote New Zealand—Mother Shares Chilling Theory

A New Zealand father who has been on the run with his three children for three years has finally been spotted in a remote area of the country, sparking renewed concerns for their safety. Tom Phillips, missing since 2021 with his children Jayda (11), Maverick (9), and Ember (8), was seen on New Zealand’s North Island on October 7th. The encounter, captured by pig hunters, is the first confirmed sighting of the family since their disappearance.

The video, now circulating widely, shows Phillips leading his children—each dressed in camouflage and wearing backpacks—through a remote stretch of farmland. The children’s faces were masked, adding to the mystery surrounding their years of isolation. The hunters, who had a brief exchange with the family, were alarmed upon spotting Phillips’ firearm and chose not to confront them, instead immediately notifying New Zealand authorities.
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Despite efforts by police, including helicopter searches of the area, Phillips and his children remain elusive. The mother of the children, Cat, shared her growing fears after watching the footage. A brief interaction between Jayda and the hunters, in which she said, “Yeah… duh” when asked if only the hunters knew they were there, has left Cat wondering if her daughter was subtly signaling for help.

“Is that a cry for help?” Cat asked in an emotional interview. “It’s like she’s trying to say something without saying it because her father is right there.”

The Phillips family first disappeared in September 2021 but briefly returned to their farm weeks later before vanishing again that December. Since then, concerns have mounted over the children’s well-being after years of isolation. While Cat was relieved to see them alive, she remains deeply concerned. “I can’t imagine what they’ve endured in these three years—it’s just wrong on so many levels.”

Cat also expressed frustration with authorities, saying they notified her about the sighting only after the footage was released. “The system has failed my children miserably,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to live like this. They deserve friends, parks, and McDonald’s.”

However, there’s a different side to this story that hasn’t been widely discussed. According to reports, the mother, a known crack addict, had abandoned the children for eight years to fuel her drug habit. Despite this, the courts shockingly granted her custody when she returned. Faced with the reality of losing his kids to a woman who had previously neglected them, Phillips did what he believed was the only sane thing—he took his children to protect them.

Many who support Phillips argue that the children are perfectly fine and are better off with him than being placed back in the care of their drug-addicted mother.