Police contacted people with information about missing family members after offering reward

(Clockwise from top left) Tom Phillips, Jayda Phillips, Ember Phillips and Maverick Callam-Phillips
photo: Image source: New Zealand Police

After offering a reward Tuesday for information leading to the disappearance of a man and his three children, police have received emails, calls and visits from people who say they have information about the man and his three children.

them An $80,000 reward was announced yesterday Get information about missing Marocopa man Tom Phillips and his three children so they can be located and returned safely.

Ember, eight, Maverick, nine, and Jayda, ten, have been missing since December 2021, when they were taken by Phillips to an unknown location – although police believe it is in or around Marokopa, west of the Waikato.

Acting Detective Inspector Andy Saunders.
photo: RNZ/Jordan Dunn

Acting Detective Sergeant Andy Saunders told Morning Report The appeal is directed at people they believe have been helping Phillips hide.

“This action targets those who have direct knowledge of the whereabouts of the children.”

Police also said anyone with information might be offered immunity from prosecution.

“The most important thing about this is the safe return of the children, that is our focus,” Sanders said.

He said police had received emails, phone calls and had been in communication with community members since yesterday’s announcement.

Officials are currently going through all the information and prioritizing it “to understand its value.”

Sanders said it was too early to tell whether the information was credible.

He said police believed the family lived in the residence, not on the streets, but had been unable to locate them over the past 2 1/2 years despite multiple sightings and identification of multiple locations of interest.

Otorohanga Mayor Max Baxter.
photo: Provided by/KCN

Max Baxter, Mayor of Otorohanga Morning Report He hopes it’s enough for someone to step up and help the family.

“$80,000 is a lot of money for anybody who lives in Marocopa, and $80,000 is a lot of money for anybody. I hope that this reward will be enough to change the attitude of those who might be withholding information.”

Baxter said the general consensus in the community is that someone must have been assisting Phillips.

“Malakoppa itself does not need to be identified for this reason, so we just hope people will put their hands up now and come forward,” he said.