The family of the three children who vanished with their father four years ago into the wilderness have spoken out for the first time.
In 2021, Tom Phillips and his children Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, nine, vanished from their family home in New Zealand, after reportedly having a spat with their mom, Cat.
A national search has been ongoing ever since with the last known public sighting of the missing kids being recorded on October 3 last year.
A group of teenagers reportedly spotted Tom and the three youngsters trekking through the bush and took a video of them.
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At the time, Cat said she was 'grateful' for the teens for making the recording, noting how it felt like Christmas had come 'early'.
However, the mom-of-three accused her ex-partner of treating the kids as 'just pawns in this game' and that he's trying to 'teach [her] a lesson'.
Now, Tom's family have spoken out for the first time by issuing an appeal directly to him.
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His mom Julia penned in a heartbreaking handwritten note: "Everyday I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you all come home," reports BBC.
"Tom - I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this. Not considering how much we love you and can support you. It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here."
She added: "Jayda, Maverick, Ember - I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives."
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"There's a lot of love and there's a lot of support, and we're ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through," his sister, Rozzi Phillips, told New Zealand news site Stuff in an exclusive interview.
"I I miss you, and I miss being part of your life, and I really want to see you and the kids and be part of your lives again," she added.
Rozzi says her brother was a capable builder and believes he might have created a hut or a 'nest' in the bush as shelter for the four of them.
Cops said they believe Tom fled with the children after losing a legal custody battle to their mom and has since been camping out in the North Island's western Waikato region.
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Last year, a NZ$80,000 reward for information on their whereabouts was posted.
The teenage pig hunters reportedly spotted the family in Marokopa, noting that Tom appeared to be carrying a gun and sporting a long beard, while the children were masked and transporting their own packs.
They even claimed they briefly spoke to one of the children, asking one of them if anyone knew they were there, to which the child allegedly said: "Only you," as reported by New Zealand's 1News.
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A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of the father over his alleged involvement in a bank robbery in Te Kuiti, during which police said they believed Tom had an accomplice in the incident.
Local cops have warned the public against approaching Tom in the belief he is likely armed and said they believe he could be being helped to evade the law by other parties.
Topics: New Zealand, Crime, Parenting
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