How on Earth could a man and three kids go into hiding for three years and not be found?
That’s a question which often comes up for private investigator Chris Budge — who spoke with 1News about finding fugitive father Tom Phillips and his three children was harder than most people might realise.
“Remember, this is somebody who has lived in this area all their life.”
Last month, Phillips and his three children were filmed walking on farmland about 3km south of Marokopa by young pig hunters. Prior to this, Phillips and his three children Jayda, now 11, Maverick, nine, and Ember, eight, hadn’t been seen together since December 12, 2021.
Shortly afterward, police combed the area for three days — on foot and using helicopters — with no luck.
Budge said, with help, Phillips may have been able to slip away before police had arrived at the scene after being filmed.
“It wouldn’t have taken much to walk down here and get picked up by a car.”
Budge then showed 1News how modern technology can fall short when trying to locate people.
A camera with an infrared setting and with a heat signature both failed to reveal a 1News reporter hiding behind a tree stump.
‘Trees upon trees’ to hide in — local
Waitomo resident Georgia Goddard suggested the dense bush in the area has plenty of places to hide.
“There are trees upon trees on the ground, you’d just have to stand underneath them.”
Police said the Defence Force has been called on and remained ready to help. It also added Phillips was armed, and they would proceed with great caution.
WARN International’s Lance Burdett said: “The more force you use, the more force is going to be pushed back — the higher the likelihood of an ending we don’t want.”
Burdett said Phillips may be staying with someone and intelligence gathering was a key to the investigation.
“Let’s have a look at some of the houses; the use of electricity, where’s high electricity being used? The young ones would have grown out of their clothing, so where are we getting the clothing from, who is buying clothing that might not ordinarily buy clothing?”
Burdett said these questions suggested to him the family was being helped by a variety of people within the local community.
He believed it was that help, paired with Phillips’ local knowledge which had helped him stay in hiding with his kids.