Desperate plea for runaway fugitive Tom Phillips to return his three children

An emotional sister has begged her fugitive runaway brother to come home - with his three young children with whom he vanished years ago.

Tom Phillips has been on the run for nearly four years with Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and nine-year-old Ember. It is believed he has been hiding out in remote wilderness in the Waikato region of New Zealand but authorities there say there have been few potential sightings of the father.

Wanted for an armed robbery, Phillips, 38, have scoured Waikato and appealed to any potential accomplices to reach "a deal" in order to garner Phillips' whereabouts. His sister, Rozzi Pethybridge, is particularly concerned for the children, who have been exposed to harsh winters in the wilderness.

In an emotional address today, Rozzi said: "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."

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Jayda, Maverick and Ember have been forced to grow up in the harshest and most unnatural of circumstances since Phillips disappeared with them. Calling for Phillips to hand himself in for the kids' sakes, Rozzi continued: "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."

In her first interview since her brother vanished, Rozzi said she hoped her dramatic intervention in this extraordinary case will have an impact. It may be aided by a letter "from the heart" written by Rozzi and Phillips' mother Julia made public through media in New Zealand.

It reads: "I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this. 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. Jayda, Maverick, Ember – I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives."

Speaking to New Zealand journalist Paddy Gower, Rozzi said she had faith in police, who have deployed what is widely perceived to be a change of tactics in recent months. In the wake of Rozzi's appeal, Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said: "Let's work out a negotiation, and let's get everyone out of there safely. We're willing to negotiate with anyone who is actually helping Tom and in communication with him."

Phillips and his children went missing in 2021, by which time he had been separated from his wife for several years and had reportedly been awarded custody of the children, whom he was home-schooling. However, Phillips is alleged to have stolen a motorcycle and, accompanied by a smaller, female accomplice, held up a bank at gunpoint.