(MENAFN) The parents of Tom Phillips, who disappeared with his three children into the New Zealand wilderness in 2021, have made their first public statement since he was killed by police on 8 September.

"We would like to send our sincere apology... for all the trouble, inconvenience, loss of privacy and property caused by Tom," Neville and Julia Phillips wrote in a letter published locally. "We in no way supported him or agreed with any of his actions in the past four years. We are truly sorry for all that you had to endure."

Phillips had eluded capture for almost four years, despite a nationwide search and multiple reported sightings. He died in a shoot-out in which a police officer was seriously injured; the officer has since been released from hospital. One of Phillips’ children was present during the confrontation and later helped authorities locate the other two children.

Before going into hiding, Phillips and his children lived in Marokopa, a remote area in Waikato surrounded by dense bush and steep terrain. "The vast area in which Phillips kept the children is difficult, steep terrain almost completely obscured from all angles by dense bush," Detective Superintendent Ross McKay said. He added that the main priority of the police operation was "locating and returning the children safely," noting that officers were aware Phillips "had firearms and was motivated to use them."

Prior to his death, Phillips’ family had made repeated appeals for him to return. In a television message, his sister Rozzi said, "we're ready to help you walk through what you need to walk through," while his mother Julia wrote that she hoped "today will be the day that you all come home."

MENAFN09102025000045017640ID1110171864