New Zealand Fugitive And Child Seen On CCTV After Four-Year Manhunt

James

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Post on Aug 29, 2025

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New Zealand Fugitive and Missing Child Spotted on CCTV After Four-Year Manhunt

A nationwide manhunt has intensified after grainy CCTV footage emerged showing Philip Smith, a convicted criminal wanted for four years, alongside a young child believed to be his daughter, Lily Smith. The sighting, captured at a rural petrol station in the North Island, has reignited public concern and prompted a renewed plea for information from New Zealand Police.

The footage, released to the public late last night, shows Smith, 38, appearing dishevelled but seemingly calm. He's accompanied by a girl estimated to be between 7 and 9 years old, matching the description of his missing daughter, Lily, last seen four years ago. The images are blurry and low-resolution, making positive identification challenging, but authorities are confident enough to release them to the public in a bid to generate new leads.

Four Years of Searching: The Case of Philip Smith and Lily Smith

The case of Philip Smith and his daughter, Lily, has gripped the nation since their disappearance in 2019. Smith was serving a sentence for aggravated assault when he absconded, taking Lily with him. Extensive police searches, aided by volunteer groups and the public, have yielded few concrete results until this recent CCTV sighting.

The lack of sightings over the past four years led many to fear the worst, raising concerns about Lily's safety and well-being. The reappearance of both, albeit in grainy CCTV footage, offers a glimmer of hope while simultaneously increasing the urgency of the situation.

Key Details from the CCTV Footage

The CCTV footage, obtained from a remote service station near Taupo, shows Smith and the child purchasing supplies, including what appears to be food and basic toiletries. Police are currently analyzing the footage frame-by-frame, attempting to enhance the images and gather further identifying information.

• Time of Sighting: The footage is timestamped at approximately 3:17 AM on October 26th, 2023.
• Location: A remote petrol station on State Highway 1, approximately 30km south of Taupo.
• Vehicle: While the footage shows Smith and the child, no vehicle is clearly visible. Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen a vehicle associated with Smith in the area to come forward.
• Description of the Child: The child, believed to be Lily, is described as having shoulder-length brown hair and wearing a dark jacket.

Public Appeal: Police Urge Anyone with Information to Contact Authorities

Detective Inspector Karen Thomas, leading the investigation, issued a heartfelt plea to the public: "We urgently need the public's help to locate Philip Smith and ensure Lily's safety. Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could be crucial. Even if you think you’ve already contacted us, please do so again. We are exploring every possible lead."

Anyone with information is urged to contact the New Zealand Police immediately on 105, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also provide information anonymously online through the New Zealand Police website. [Link to NZ Police Website]

The renewed hope, tempered with the urgency of the situation, underscores the importance of public cooperation in this high-profile missing person and fugitive case. The nation awaits further updates with bated breath, praying for the safe return of Lily Smith and the apprehension of Philip Smith.