The desperate manhunt for a New Zealand father and his partner, who have vanished into the wilderness with his three young children, has taken another strange turn as police discovered their abandoned vehicle.
Tom Phillips, 37, and Catherine Christey, 35, are now the subjects of an intensive search operation after they were last seen fleeing on foot into the dense, remote bush near Marokopa on the country's North Island. The couple has Phillips' three children in tow: Jayda, 12, Maverick, 11, and Ember, 9, who have been missing for over two years.
The alarming discovery was made after a member of the public spotted a Mitsubishi Lancer, registered to Christey, parked suspiciously near a walking track in the area. Police swiftly descended on the scene, but there was no sign of the family, leading authorities to believe they had fled on foot into the challenging terrain.
This is not Phillips' first attempt to live off-grid with the children. He previously took them into the same region in 2021, staying in a hidden campsite for three weeks before unexpectedly returning. He was subsequently charged with wasting police resources but has now escalated the situation by disappearing again.
A life shrouded in mystery surrounds the couple's motives. Investigations reveal that Christey, a qualified teacher, sold her suburban home shortly before disappearing. Friends and family describe her actions as completely out of character, expressing profound worry for her and the children's welfare.
Police have issued a direct plea to the public, urging anyone with information to come forward. They are particularly concerned for the wellbeing and safety of the children, who have been absent from school and their normal lives for an extended period.
The search continues to focus on the vast, rugged King Country region, with land and air units scouring the area for any trace of the fugitive family.
