The mother of Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips has written her son and his kids a heartfelt letter.
Phillips and his three children, Jayda, Maverick and Ember, have been missing since December 2021. Despite multiple police operations and rewards offered to find them, there has been no success.
Speaking to Paddy Gower Has Issues, Phillips’ sister Rozzi revealed their mother Julia had written a letter to her son described as being “from a mother’s heart, just to her son”.
“Tom – I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this,” her letter said.
“Not considering how much we love you and can support you. It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here. Thinking what could have been if you had not gone away.”
In a message to the children, she said: “Love you so much and really miss being part of your lives.
“Everyday I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you will come home.”
Phillips’ family had not spoken to media since he and the children went missing. Rozzi said they decided to speak out in the hopes Phillips might see or hear about their pleas.
She also made a direct plea for him to come home.
“There’s a lot of love and there’s a lot of support, and we’re ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through,” she told Gower.
“I miss you, and I miss being part of your life, and I really want to see you and the kids and be part of your lives again. You’re very special to me. You’re my friend, as well as my brother, and I love you, and it’s okay.”
Phillips’ disappearance in December 2021 came after he was charged with wasting police resources for a previous disappearance with the kids in September.
Since then, efforts to find the fugitive family – which included searches of the area and an $80,000 reward – have proved futile.
Phillips is an experienced bushman, and it’s understood that others are helping him stay off the grid.
Rozzi said he was a capable builder and may have built a “nest” to keep the kids warm during winter.
A group of pig hunters spotted the fugitive father and kids. (Source: Supplied)
Phillips lost custody of the children and faces more charges in connection with an alleged bank robbery in Te Kūiti.
In October last year, Phillips and his three children were filmed walking on farmland about 3km south of Marokopa by young pig hunters.
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