- By Jane Nixon
A private investigator who volunteered his help to find fugitive Marokopa father Tom Phillips and his three children says he’s “saddened” by the outcome.
Phillips, 38, was shot dead by a police officer early yesterday morning, September 8, after Phillips had shot another officer in the head.
The deadly encounter began unfolding in Waikato just after 2.30am when police received a call from a member of the public who said they believed they were witnessing a burglary in progress.
Two people were seen riding on a quad bike. At about 3.20am, police laid road spikes at an intersection, Police Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers said.
The quad bike went over the road spikes and came to a stop. A police officer came across the quad bike and was shot at by Phillips.
The police officer was shot in the head, fell to the ground, and took cover.
A second police officer arrived at the scene and shot Phillips, who died at the scene.
The injured police officer, who received critical injuries, was flown to Waikato Hospital by helicopter and has since undergone surgery.
One of Phillips’ children was with him during yesterday’s incident and was unharmed.
His two other children, who were still missing at that point, were found by police last night at a campground in an area of bush.
Police have been searching for Phillips since late 2021 when he disappeared into remote Waikato bush with his three children, Jayda, Maverick and Ember.
Private investigator Chris Budge has worked as a volunteer on the Phillips case since March, 2022.
He became involved after he offered to help the children’s mother, Cat, do a private search for the children.
Police advised against doing a volunteer search, but Budge stayed behind the scenes doing his own investigation.
“I am quite saddened at how this ending has come about,” he said prior to the two remaining Phillips children being found last night.
“This is not what anybody wanted, let alone the police. My condolences go to the children and the family on this outcome.”
Budge believes Phillips only eluded police because he had the help of others.
“There could have been a bush base created or a cave that he found.
“Since those early days, I believe Tom and the kids have been in some sort of structure.
“A shepherd’s hut, a hunter’s shack or even a hayshed. And they have received regular assistance from people who are yet to be identified.
“I hope the two children are in the structure with someone who’s been assisting them, that when they hear of Tom’s demise that the children are presented to the police or member of the public, so the wider families are reunited.”
Budge says the disappearance of Phillips and the children, and the intermittent sightings, kept him committed to helping in the background.
“I didn’t want to step on the toes of police, but I’m a grandfather and I firmly believe the role of parents, grandparents and the public is to give children the best chance in today’s challenging world.
“I saw three kids, not being socialised, and being removed from their wider family.”
READ MORE:
BREAKING – Tom Phillips’ missing children found alive – Times
