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[calistan]

I'd never heard of this before, but apparently a New Zealand man vanished into the bush in 2021 with his three children after losing a custody case.

They're thought to be living wild, maybe supplied by accomplices, the father is armed and possibly involved in a bank robbery, and they have evaded all contact except for a year ago when some kids spotted them.

Surprised there's not more international interest in this case, it sounds like an interesting premise for a movie! (Or maybe this sort of thing happens all the time in New Zealand.)

New Zealand: Family of fugitive on the run with children plea for return

Tom Phillips and his children have been missing since 2021, in a case that has gripped New Zealand.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[KyoZz]

Let them, they are on a mission

 

[calistan]

Let them, they are on a mission

It would surely be difficult to reintegrate them into society if/when they're finally caught. The children are so young that they might not even remember things like school, friends, or flushing toilets.

 

[SJRB]

What, a man can't retreat into the wilderness with his kids at his own accord?

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

What, a man can't retreat into the wilderness with his kids at his own accord?

Probably not the best decision right after losing a custody case

 

[Mistake]

From what I read online, the whole family seems like a mess. He lost custody only after fleeing and missing a court date. Probably saw the writing on the wall

 

[Hookshot]

They'd be caught if anyone was actually bothering to care to look for them. Sad he has to camp with his kids as he'll lose them otherwise but if he is a bank robber in this day and age he's not the smartest chap.

 

[Trilobit]

I wondered how they were able to evade capture on such a small island, but New Zealand is much bigger than I thought.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

These wilderness folks remind me of those crazy stories in the past. Although totally different situations, there was a Russian family who went hiding during WWII. And same time, a Japanese guy evaded capture/surrender on some island. They were found and didnt know the war ended 30 or 40 years earlier.

But give them props for evading people for decades.

 

[Robot Carnival]

kinda reminds me of this

Lykov family - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

and this

Three Dead in Colorado Wilderness after Failed Attempt to Live Off Grid

Three family members were found dead in Gunnison County, Colorado, earlier this month after trying to live “off the grid” without any experience or preparation. The partially mummified and decomposed remains of Christine Vance, 41; Rebecca Vance, 42, and Rebecca's 14-year-old son, were discovered...

www.themeateater.com

hopefully they turn out ok.

 

[GeekyDad]

...Surprised there's not more international interest in this case, it sounds like an interesting premise for a movie! (Or maybe this sort of thing happens all the time in New Zealand.)

I think it's already been done a few times.

 

[calistan]

I think it's already been done a few times.

Specifically, the one in the thread title!

 

[StreetsofBeige]

kinda reminds me of this

Lykov family - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

and this

Three Dead in Colorado Wilderness after Failed Attempt to Live Off Grid

Three family members were found dead in Gunnison County, Colorado, earlier this month after trying to live “off the grid” without any experience or preparation. The partially mummified and decomposed remains of Christine Vance, 41; Rebecca Vance, 42, and Rebecca's 14-year-old son, were discovered...

www.themeateater.com

hopefully they turn out ok.

Crazy shit.

I can understand the first one though as that had to do with war and persecution. But the Colorado one wtf. It'd be like me saying I'm going full Paul Bunyan and going to hole up in a forest with a sleeping bag and live off plants and river water.