Charlotte Karp: Daily Mail reporter on the case of the missing Marokopa father and children gaining worldwide attention

The case of missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips and his three children is garnering worldwide attention. 

Pig hunters spotted them almost two weeks ago, after not being seen together since December 2021.

Their footage showing the four in camo gear with walking packs has sparked interest around the globe. 

Daily Mail reporter, Charlotte Karp, has flown to Marokopa from Australia.

She says the story's taken off in the UK.

"I think the UK are really into 'missing people' stories - and they really like a survivalist story. And I guess this is the ultimate survivalist story." 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Heather duples La. Turns out there is now actually significant
international interest in the story of Tom Phillips and his
three kids, who've been missing since twenty twenty one around
Marta Corper. The Daily Mail has even gone as far
as sending one of their journalists here to cover the story.
That journalist is Charlotte cap It was with us now, Charlotte, Hi,
are they really that interested? Where are they? Is this

(00:21):
UK interest or Ozzie interest?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's a bit of both, but most of it comes
from the UK. Yeah, why, I think the UK are
really into missing people's stories, and they really like a
survivalist story, and I guess this is the ultimate survivalist story.
You've got a dad and three kids living off the land.

(00:44):
You know, that's just I think that's unheard of over there.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
So yeah, yeah, So why did you guys decide that
the people helping them out? Because clearly there are people
in the area helping them out. That that cookers.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
I just wrote to a lot of people and that
was what they had to say. They gave me a
couple of reasons about why that would happen made sense
to me, So yeah, enough people said.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
It that but that that cookers like that. It's it's
like a conspiracy theory thing that's going on here. Ah?
Or is it just that you're just using that term
like they're just a bit weird? Ah?

Speaker 2 (01:21):
I mean I think yeah. I mean I definitely had
a mix of opinions when I spoke to people. Some
people were saying conspiracy theoriers. Others were saying not. I mean,
you know, I can't say.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
For sure, have you got any I mean, look, I'll
tell you what, Charlotte. If I had to put my
money on, who's going to find them? It's the Daily Mail?
So how close have you got?

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Oh, they're walking past right now now that you mentioned.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
How close do you reckon? You've got to them?

Speaker 2 (01:53):
I've been here since Monday, So that's anyone's guess. Probably
not super close, but you know, I keep an eye
out like everybody does. I guess.

Speaker 1 (02:04):
Was it was it the image of them in the
Camo gear walking through the bush that really got the
people in the UK Phisn't I think it did? Yeah? Yeah,
because it is just it's such a wild thing to
see a dad doing with their kids. Yeah. Absolutely, would
you pay for info.

Speaker 2 (02:26):
If it was genuine?

Speaker 1 (02:27):
How much would you pay Charlotte.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
It depends what it is. It depends what the information is.
I don't think that there's a news outlet in Australia
that wouldn't do that, so right kind of information.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
Okay, So what's your theory Having spent some time on
the ground, having talked to a lot of people, what's
your theory about where they are? Are they being helped
out by a lot of people or just a few?

Speaker 2 (02:52):
I mean, this is just my opinion from talking to people.
I think that they're being helped out by a few people,
for sure. I don't think it's a whole you know,
I don't think it's the whole of this area of
New Zealand. But yeah, I think that there are people helping.
I've had people say that they would help if they
came knocking.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
Oh really, because what they feel sympathy for him?

Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (03:12):
Yeah they do. Why do they feel sympathy for him?

Speaker 2 (03:16):
They say, he's just a dad who loves his kids
and he wanted to protect them from whatever is going on.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
In the courts. Ah, So it's a running from a
custody thing, is it?

Speaker 2 (03:27):
I think? So?

Speaker 1 (03:28):
Yeah? And do you do you think the people helping
are just like an extended family and friends. Or is
there some sort of an organized thing going on here,
like a church group or something.

Speaker 2 (03:38):
I couldn't say. You know, it could be a mix,
but I can't say.

Speaker 1 (03:42):
For how long are you sticking around for Charlotte?

Speaker 2 (03:45):
Probably just the end of the week.

Speaker 1 (03:47):
Well, good luck, he's running out of time. You need
to find them fast. I really appreciate your time. That
Charlotte carp Daily Mail, Australia senior reporter who's been sent
here to keep an eye on it. For more from
Hither Duplessy Allen Drive listen live to news talk said
Be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on
iHeartRadio