The New Zealand mother whose three children went missing for four years after being kidnapped by their fugitive father has spoken out after the children were found safe on Monday.
Tom Phillips, the father, was shot and killed by police during a shootout on Monday afternoon while with one of his children. Police found the two other children safe shortly after their father was shot dead, according to PEOPLE.
Afterwards, the mother of Ember, Maverick, and Jayda shared an emotional statement with Radio New Zealand after reuniting with her children after four years.
The girls’ mother, Cat, expressed relief that their ordeal has ended, referring to the Māori word for “children.”
“[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.”
The mother went on to say, “At the same time, we are saddened by the events of today. Our hope has always been that the children can be returned in a peaceful and safe manner for all involved.”
Cat also thanked authorities and expressed compassion for a local police officer who was reportedly injured during the shootout with Phillips.
“Your compassion has sustained us,” she said. “As a whānau, we are now attempting to work in cooperation with the relevant government agencies to support the safe return and reconnection of our tamariki.”
A whānau is a Māori extended family unit that usually includes multiple generations.
“They have endured a long and difficult journey, and we ask for privacy as we help them adjust and reintegrate into a stable and loving environment.”
Philips first went missing with his three children in December 2021, after police said he fled with them following an alleged argument with their mother.
According to NBC News, he has been living off the grid and does not have legal custody of the children. According to the outlet, the father and his three children are believed to have never left the densely wooded area near their isolated rural New Zealand settlement in the last four years, but authorities are still unable to locate them.
According to CNN, RNZ, and ABC News Australia, authorities identified Phillips after receiving a call on Monday about a robbery at a farm goods store in Poipoi, in the western Waikato district, which resulted in the shootout.
Phillips has been seen only a few times in the last four years, but authorities caught him on CCTV security footage just two weeks ago during another break-in at a local business with one of his children, according to a news release.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers told RNZ that the children were taken into custody and are now receiving support, and that their “welfare remains our top priority.”
“This is an emotional development,” Rogers explained to reporters on the scene. “To know the children are safe, and now receiving care after nearly four years, is an absolute relief.”
