First Photos of Camp Where Fugitive Father Hid His 3 Children Released | NFL Sports

The first photographs of the campsite where fugitive father Tom Phillips was hiding with his three children in a rural area of New Zealand before he was shot dead in a police shootout have been released.
Phillips disappeared with his children, Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, after an alleged dispute with their mother back in 2021, PEOPLE previously reported.
He’d been on the run since December of that year and believed to have been hiding in the wilderness until the New Zealand Police confirmed he’d been fatally shot in the early hours of the morning on Monday, Sept. 8 in Waikato — a region of the country’s upper North Island — following a suspected burglary in the small town of Piopio.

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, police released multiple images showing a wilderness camp in Waitomo, which was just over a mile from the scene where Phillips died after a shootout with officers. A quad bike, tyres and what appeared to be cans of soda were seen in the photos.
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Police confirmed on Monday that the two remaining children had been discovered “unharmed” following the incident, and were “now safe,” per a news release. Phillips’ third child had been with him at the time of the shooting and was already in police custody.
“The makeshift camp was located by specialist Police, acting on information from one of the children,” police said in Tuesday’s release.
“A large-scale investigation is continuing into the shooting, which happened about 3.25 a.m. [local time] on Monday on Te Anga Road,” officers added.

An officer, named as Officer A in the latest release, was injured in the shootout and is currently recovering in the hospital. Police finally managed to capture Phillips after laying down spikes for his quad bike to run over after he was suspected of a burglary at a commercial address in Piopio.
“A number of areas in Western Waikato remain under scene guard as Police process evidence following Monday morning’s events,” the latest update noted.
Police said “the camp area in Waitomo and the scene of the shooting remain active crime scenes, with forensic staff on site today to gather evidence,” per the post.

“Three firearms, including the weapon used by Phillips, have been recovered from the scene of the shooting. Several firearms have been located from the area where Phillips was camping, and further details will be shared when they become available,” they added.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed a number of investigations were underway into the incident, including an Independent Police Conduct Authority investigation, Coronial enquiries, and a Critical Incident Review.
“The body of Tom Phillips was removed from the scene late yesterday and there will be a [post-mortem] tomorrow, after which his body will be released to his family,” she said, per Tuesday’s release.

“Investigation staff are going over the areas where the family had been staying, and have been speaking with farmers, locals, and workers in the area. That work is to help us build an accurate picture of the movements of Tom Phillips and the children,” Rogers added.
Rogers said that the three children had now been reunited and were in the care of the Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children).

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“Our staff described the children as being engaged and they readily spoke with our staff, who provided them with snacks and drinks while they waited to be brought out of the [campsite],” the officer said.
“While they are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki, we will continue to work closely with the children, taking the time and sensitivity that is needed after the ordeal they have been through,” she continued.
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While speaking to Radio New Zealand’s (RNZ) Mata podcast, the children’s mother, Cat, said, “[The children] have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care.”