WHAT WAS CLAIMED
Family members of NZ fugitive Tom Phillips have spoken out after his death.
OUR VERDICT
False. The quotes are fake.
AAP FACTCHECK - Fake quotes attributed to the family and children of New Zealand fugitive Tom Phillips are being shared on social media in an apparent attempt to generate clicks and engagement.
Phillips, who disappeared into dense wilderness with his three children in late 2021, was killed during a shootout with police on September 8, 2025.
His children have all since been recovered safely.
Their disappearance was the subject of a years-long manhunt by authorities, despite a number of sightings over the years and appeals from his family.
Fabricated quotes about the fatal shooting are being shared by a number of Facebook pages that routinely post false and misleading claims about celebrities and major news stories.
One Facebook post (see feature image) claims Phillips' sister spoke out defending her brother after he was shot.
"'MY BROTHER, NOT A M0NSTER'," the caption reads.
"Heartbroken Sister Breaks Silence After Tom Phillips Is K-lled by Police, As Missing Children Are Found Alive After Four Years in the Wild."
Other posts claim Phillips' parents spoke out about his ex-wife and were seeking custody of the children, or show "quotes" from police and their mother.
Readers are encouraged to click a link in the caption or comment section for "more information".
There are no credible reports suggesting the quotes shared by the Facebook pages are authentic.
The children's mother said she was saddened by the incident but "deeply relieved" for her children that it was over, Radio NZ reported.
A Phillips' family spokesperson issued a statement to Radio NZ saying they are "absolutely gutted" for a police officer who was allegedly shot by Phillips and that they were focusing on the children.
On the day of the shooting, Phillips' father spoke about being "shafted several times by the police", Stuff NZ journalist Tony Wall said.
No public comments have been made by the children, who are under Family Court guardianship, which strictly limits what can be reported about them.
Page transparency information reveals the Facebook accounts are run by users in Vietnam and Bangladesh.
AAP FactCheck has previously debunked similar content using fake or misleading information to encourage users to click on websites, often generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
Toby Walsh, an AI expert at the University of NSW, said fake articles are designed to commoditise people's attention.
AI tools can easily and cheaply generate fake content to attract eyeballs and generate advertising revenue, Professor Walsh said.
"And eyeballs equate to money," Professor Walsh added.
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