“THE CHILDREN’S DRAWING” — Investigators uncover a sketch from Tom Phillips’ campsite Experts believe the picture hints at someone else visiting the bush. More details in comments.
THE CHILDREN’S DRAWING: Investigators Uncover Sketch from Tom Phillips’ Campsite Hinting at Mystery Visitor
The four-year manhunt for Tom Phillips and his three children—Jayda, Maverick, and Ember—ended in tragedy on September 8, 2025, when Phillips was fatally shot by police in Piopio, New Zealand, after a violent confrontation. The discovery of his children, now 12, 10, and 9, at a remote Waikato campsite brought a bittersweet resolution to a saga that had gripped the nation. Among the sparse belongings at their makeshift hideout, investigators uncovered a child’s drawing that has added a new layer of intrigue to the case. Experts believe this sketch, found crumpled among the campsite’s debris, may hint at an unknown visitor to the Phillips’ isolated world, raising questions about who else was involved in their years on the run.
Tom Phillips, a skilled bushman from Marokopa, vanished with his children in December 2021 after a contentious custody dispute with their mother, known as Cat. The family’s first disappearance in September 2021, when Phillips’ truck was found abandoned on Kiritehere Beach, sparked fears they had been swept out to sea. Nineteen days later, they emerged from a bush camp, with Phillips claiming he needed to “clear his head.” Charged with wasting police resources, he fled again before his January 2022 court date, this time for nearly four years. Over that period, rare sightings—a 2023 bank robbery in Te Kūiti, a hardware store visit in Hamilton, and a 2024 encounter with pig hunters—kept the mystery alive, with police suspecting Phillips had outside help to sustain his family in the wilderness.
The final chapter unfolded at 2:30 a.m. on September 8, when police responded to a burglary at a PGG Wrightson store in Piopio. Phillips, accompanied by Jayda, fled on a stolen quad bike but hit police road spikes on Te Anga Road. When a constable approached, Phillips fired a high-powered rifle, striking the officer in the head. Return fire killed Phillips instantly. Jayda, unharmed, provided crucial details that led police to a campsite 2 kilometers away, where Maverick and Ember were found in a “grim” setup of tarpaulins, quad bikes, and scattered Sprite cans. The children, now in Oranga Tamariki’s care, are described as “engaged” but facing a long recovery from their ordeal.
Among the campsite’s contents—firearms, ammunition, and stolen goods—investigators found a child’s drawing that has shifted the focus of the ongoing probe. The sketch, believed to be drawn by one of the younger children, depicts a forested scene with four figures: three smaller ones, presumed to be the children, and a taller figure with a beard, likely Phillips. Strikingly, a fifth figure, distinct in appearance with a hat and backpack, stands apart, holding what appears to be a bag or container. Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders, speaking to RNZ on September 11, 2025, called the drawing “a potential lead” in identifying accomplices. “It’s not just a child’s scribble,” he said. “The detail suggests someone else may have visited their camp.” Experts analyzing the sketch believe it could indicate contact with an outsider who provided supplies, reinforcing suspicions that Phillips relied on a network to evade capture.
The campsite, one of many Phillips used, was well-hidden in dense Waikato bush, with tarpaulins draped over quad bikes and a dugout tent camouflaged by foliage. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers noted the family’s mobility, saying, “They’ve been moving around. The terrain is challenging, and they were deep in the bush.” The drawing, found among blankets and debris, offers a glimpse into the children’s isolated world. Dr. Sarah Watson, a child psychologist consulted by police, suggested the sketch might reflect a significant encounter. “Children often draw what they experience,” she told TVNZ. “This fifth figure could represent someone who brought food or supplies, someone the children saw as distinct from their father.” The drawing’s details—a specific hat style and a bag—align with items like headlamps and batteries Phillips purchased in 2023, hinting at a structured supply chain.
The children’s mother, Cat, expressed relief at their safe recovery but anguish over their lost years. “They’re my everything,” she told RNZ’s Mata programme, unaware of when she might reunite with them due to trauma assessments. The drawing raises concerns about the children’s psychological state, as it suggests they were aware of secretive interactions. “They’ve been taught to distrust the outside world,” Watson noted, warning of potential “distorted moral frameworks” from their involvement in Phillips’ alleged crimes, including the 2023 bank robbery where Jayda was reportedly present. The children’s reintegration will require careful handling, with Oranga Tamariki planning extensive therapy.
Phillips’ sister, Rozzi, provided context in an August 2025 interview with Paddy Gower, describing her brother as a man driven by a belief he was protecting his children from a “broken system.” She read a letter from their mother, Julia: “Tom, it hurts every time I see photos of you and the kids.” Rozzi’s words underscore the family’s pain, now compounded by the drawing’s implications. The sketch suggests Phillips may have coordinated with outsiders, possibly locals sympathetic to his cause, who left supplies at remote drop points. Police are now analyzing the drawing alongside other campsite items, like a blanket with hidden notes and a stash of canned goods, to trace these connections. Saunders emphasized, “We’re determined to identify anyone who helped Phillips. The children’s safety was compromised, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
Public sentiment, as seen on X, is polarized. Some users romanticize Phillips as a father fighting for his family, with one post calling him “a legend who kept his kids safe.” Others condemn his actions, noting the trauma inflicted on the children. “They weren’t free; they were prisoners in the bush,” another user wrote. Police Minister Mark Mitchell dismissed hero narratives, stating, “No one who endangers children and shoots at officers is a hero.” The injured officer, recovering in Waikato Hospital, faces a long rehabilitation, a stark reminder of the case’s toll.
The drawing’s discovery has fueled speculation about Phillips’ network. The fifth figure’s distinct appearance—unlike Phillips’ bearded, rugged look—suggests a specific individual, possibly a local familiar with the Waikato terrain. Police are cross-referencing the sketch with reports of stolen goods and sightings, like the 2023 hardware store visit where Phillips bought camping supplies with cash. The campsite’s proximity to Marokopa, where Phillips grew up pig hunting, supports the theory he stayed close to familiar land, relying on others to avoid detection in a region police searched extensively.
As investigators piece together the puzzle, the children’s drawing stands as a haunting artifact of their wilderness years. It captures not just a moment of creativity but a clue to the secretive world Phillips built—one where a stranger’s visit left a mark on a child’s imagination. For Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, the sketch is a testament to their resilience and a reminder of the secrets they carried. As police pursue leads to uncover Phillips’ accomplices, the drawing that changed everything offers hope of answers—and a path to healing for three children who survived the unthinkable.
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