- The family of the missing Phillips children are experiencing 鈥渄aily torment鈥� as the search continues.
- Cat, the mother, questions why more hasn鈥檛 been done to find Jayda, Maverick and Ember.
- Despite a confirmed sighting and a three-day search, police have not located the children.
The family of the missing Marokopa children say they are going through 鈥渄aily torment鈥� waiting for the youngsters to be found, and praising mum Cat鈥檚 courage for speaking out.
Days after the latest confirmed sighting of Tom Phillips and his three children on a remote King Country farm, Cat, the mother of Jayda, Maverick and Ember, told the Herald she wanted to know why more hadn鈥檛 been done to find her children after her fugitive ex-partner disappeared with them in December 2021.
In a new Facebook post to the 鈥淢issing Marokopa Children鈥� page, the older half-siblings praised their mother for her courage and highlighted the daily torment she lived with.
鈥淲e are very proud of you, Mum, for speaking out. It takes courage to do so, especially amongst all of the individuals who still support Tom and his ongoing abuse.
鈥淣o one can begin to imagine the daily torment you are going through,鈥� the daughters wrote.
鈥淭his has gone on far too long, and we can only hope with this latest sighting, all the news coverage, and the search efforts, that we are getting closer to seeing our babies again.
鈥淲e love you so much Jadya, Maverick and Ember and we hope you will return home soon.鈥�
The post claimed Cat, mother of Jayda, Maverick and Ember Phillips has been dealing with 'daily torment' since her children went missing. Photo / Michael Craig.
Footage emerged of Phillips and the three children tramping in remote central North Island farmland earlier this month wearing camo gear and carrying large packs after a chance encounter with teenage pig hunters.
- Former SAS tracker says soldiers could find Tom Phillips within two weeks
- 'Just pawns in his game': Mother of missing Marokopa kids speaks about the 'loss of my babies'
- Watch: Fugitive Tom Phillips and three children filmed in bush with large packs
- 'They鈥檙e all alive': Mum relieved after seeing kids missing for nearly 3 yrs in new video
Cat said it felt like the search was 鈥渙ut of the police鈥檚 league鈥� and questioned why more qualified authorities had not been brought in for assistance after the sighting police deemed 鈥渃redible鈥�.
Seeing her three children alive was 鈥榦verwhelming鈥�
Cat was emotional when she spoke to the Herald about getting proof her three children 鈥� who she last saw in 2021 鈥� were alive.
She said it was 鈥渙verwhelming... it was the best thing鈥�.
Fugitive dad Tom Phillips and his three children were spotted tramping in the Marokopa bush.
鈥淚 just broke down ... I can鈥檛 see their faces but I can see them walking and they鈥檙e all there, and they鈥檙e capable of carrying their own bags.鈥�
After a three-day search, including the use of a military helicopter, police said 鈥渘othing further of significance鈥� was found and the search was called off.
鈥淚t was like Christmas come early and I really thought they would be coming home this time,鈥� said Cat.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a confirmed sighting and yet nothing has come of it.鈥�
The mother of the three missing Phillips children, Cat, is 'relieved' the youngsters are alive after seeing them in a video for the first time in almost three years.
Cat also revealed she was the person who saw Phillips at Bunnings last year, sending a photo of the ute he was driving to police.
She鈥檚 appealing to those who she suspects are helping Phillips to put a stop to what she says is 鈥渃hild abuse鈥� and to tell authorities what they know.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 get any easier ... It鈥檚 been nearly three years.鈥�
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