“I Lived in Fear for Four Years”: The Heartbreaking Words of Tom Phillips’ Children’s Mother

On September 8, 2025, a violent shootout in New Zealand’s Waikato region brought a tragic end to the nearly four-year manhunt for Tom Phillips, a fugitive who vanished with his three children—Jayda, Maverick, and Ember—in December 2021. Phillips, killed by police after critically injuring an officer, left behind a legacy of pain and unanswered questions. For the first time since that fateful day, the children’s mother, known only as “Cat” to protect her identity, has spoken out. Her raw, emotional words paint a vivid picture of four years marked by fear, sleepless nights, and the devastating heartbreak of seeing her children return under the darkest of circumstances. This article explores Cat’s journey, the clues found at Phillips’ campsite, and the lingering questions that haunt a nation.

A Mother’s Nightmare Begins

Cat’s ordeal began in September 2021, when Tom Phillips, her former partner, took their three children—then aged five, seven, and eight—on what he claimed was an 18-day “camping trip” in the Waikato bush. The family returned briefly, only for Phillips to disappear again with Jayda, Maverick, and Ember in December 2021, following a bitter custody dispute. Phillips, who did not have legal custody, evaded authorities for nearly four years, living off-grid in the rugged wilderness. For Cat, this marked the start of a living nightmare. “I went to bed every night wondering if they were alive, if they were safe,” she told RNZ in an exclusive interview on September 10, 2025. “The fear was crippling.”

Cat’s sleepless nights were compounded by the lack of answers. Rare sightings of the family—such as a 2023 video of them trekking through the forest or a 2025 CCTV clip of Phillips robbing a store with one of his children—offered fleeting hope but no resolution. “Every time I saw their faces in those grainy images, it was like a knife to the heart,” she said. “They were growing up, but I wasn’t there.” The uncertainty fueled her anguish, as she grappled with the possibility that her children were either in danger or had been turned against her by their father.

The Tragic End and a Bittersweet Reunion

The events of September 8, 2025, shattered Cat’s fragile hope. Police responded to a burglary at a farm supply store in Piopio, spotting Phillips and his eldest daughter, Jayda, now 12, on a quad bike. In the ensuing chase toward Marokopa, Phillips opened fire with a high-powered rifle, critically injuring an officer. Police returned fire, killing Phillips at the scene. Jayda, who witnessed the violence, provided critical information, calmly guiding negotiators to a hidden campsite two kilometers away where Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, were found safe. The children were placed in the care of Oranga Tamariki, New Zealand’s child welfare agency, as Cat awaited the chance to reunite with them.

In her statement, Cat expressed a torrent of emotions: relief at her children’s safety, grief over Phillips’ death, and compassion for the injured officer. “I’m so grateful my babies are alive, but my heart breaks for the way they came back to me,” she said. “No mother should have to see her children return like this—after a shootout, after years of fear.” She thanked the public for their support, noting, “Your compassion has sustained us.” Yet, the reunion remains uncertain, as the children undergo medical and psychological evaluations to assess the impact of their years in isolation.

Clues from the Campsite: A Glimpse into a Fugitive’s Life

The discovery of Phillips’ main campsite, located in dense Waikato bushland, provided chilling insight into the family’s life on the run. Investigators spent seven hours combing through the site, uncovering a sparse but revealing collection of items: three handwritten notes, a compass, dozens of footprints leading deeper into the forest, a camouflaged quad bike, a motorcycle, a fuel drum, a children’s lunchbox, a water bottle, two cans of Sprite, a crushed Coke can, a steel mug, and several firearms, including the rifle used in the shootout. A second campsite, 200 meters away, featured a kitchen setup and sleeping area, suggesting a network of temporary hideouts.

The handwritten notes, whose contents remain undisclosed, have sparked intense speculation. Were they messages to potential accomplices, personal reflections, or instructions for the children? The compass indicates Phillips navigated the wilderness with precision, while the footprints suggest frequent movement, likely to evade detection. The presence of everyday items like soda cans and a lunchbox raises questions about how Phillips acquired supplies. Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders noted, “We’re investigating whether these were obtained through burglaries or supplied by others.” The firearms, including one reportedly held by Maverick during the police approach, underscore the dangerous environment the children endured.

Four Years of Fear: A Mother’s Anguish

Cat’s account reveals the depth of her fear during the children’s absence. “I didn’t know if they were eating, if they were warm, if they even remembered me,” she said. The Waikato region’s harsh terrain, coupled with Phillips’ survival skills as a hunter, meant the family could vanish into the bush for months at a time. Cat lived with constant dread, amplified by media coverage and community whispers in Marokopa, a town of fewer than 100 people. “Every news report felt like a punch,” she said. “People called him a folk hero, but he took my children.”

The custody dispute that preceded the disappearance added layers of complexity. Court records, partially suppressed, suggest tensions between Cat and Phillips, with allegations of domestic issues that remain under a High Court injunction. Cat has not commented on these details, but her statement hints at a fraught relationship: “Tom made choices I’ll never understand, but I never stopped loving our kids.” The lack of clarity about Phillips’ motives—whether driven by a desire to protect his children or by paranoia—left Cat in a state of perpetual uncertainty.

The Heartbreak of Return

The children’s return, while a relief, has been overshadowed by tragedy. Now 12, 10, and 9, Jayda, Maverick, and Ember spent their formative years in isolation, deprived of schooling, socialization, and stability. Experts warn of significant psychological challenges, with trauma from witnessing violence and living in survival mode. Jayda’s composure during the crisis impressed police, with one officer noting she was “very, very helpful” in guiding them to her siblings. Yet, Cat fears the long-term impact. “They’re not the same kids I lost,” she said. “They’ve seen things no child should.”

The campsite’s stark conditions—no bedding, minimal shelter—highlight the hardships the children faced. Cat’s heartbreak is palpable: “I keep imagining them out there, cold, scared, with guns around them. It’s unbearable.” Oranga Tamariki is prioritizing the children’s welfare, but Cat has not yet been granted visitation, as assessments continue. “I just want to hold them, tell them I love them,” she said, her voice breaking.

Lingering Questions and a Nation’s Reflection

The investigation into Phillips’ life on the run is ongoing, with police probing the possibility of accomplices. The campsite’s supplies and the family’s ability to evade a NZ$80,000 reward-driven manhunt suggest external support. “It’s apparent he had help,” Saunders said, echoing suspicions raised by Phillips’ sister, Rozzi, who has also spoken of the family’s pain. The handwritten notes and footprints may hold clues to this network, but their significance remains under wraps.

A High Court suppression order, granted on September 9, 2025, limits details about Phillips and the children, fueling speculation about family secrets or systemic failures in the custody process. Cat’s statement avoids these specifics, focusing instead on her children’s future. “I want them to heal, to know they’re loved,” she said. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called the case a “sombre day,” reflecting national grief over the officer’s injury and the children’s ordeal.

Cat’s words resonate as a mother’s plea amid tragedy. Her four years of fear and sleepless nights have given way to a new challenge: helping her children recover from a life on the run. As New Zealand grapples with the case’s complexities, the campsite clues—notes, a compass, footprints—stand as haunting reminders of a mystery that may never be fully resolved.