A father who disappeared with his children three years ago and was recently spotted in the wilderness reportedly sent a letter to their mother. The case of the missing Marokopa children has gained public attention after the mother, Cat, spoke out for the first time.
Cat issued a fresh appeal for the return of her children, Ember, 8, Maverick, 9, and Jayda Phillips, 11, who have been missing since their father, Tom, took them into the wild in 2021.
In her statement, Cat referred to a letter she claims was written by Tom, where he portrays himself as having “a good heart” and well-meaning intentions.
On social media, she shared, “I have decided to release a letter written by Thomas to show that things are not as they appear.” In the letter, Tom reportedly says, “I don’t know what to say or do to help you forgive me.”
Tom also expresses that he’s not “desperate to be with someone, or I would have already done it,” and that he wants to be with “Catherine, the woman I’ve loved for over seven years.”
He continues, saying he “can’t make you forgive me” and that only Cat can make that decision, acknowledging, “I know you don’t have to.”
Tom writes, “If I ever stop trying to make things right, I’ll regret it forever. I’m sorry for everything I’ve said or done to hurt you. These past nine months, I’ve suffered every day, knowing I should’ve handled things better and that I messed up. Hindsight is a tough lesson, and now I realize there was a better way. I’ll have to live with that for the rest of my life.”
He compliments Cat, saying, “You have a beautiful personality, and the happiest years of my life are because of you. You’ve brought me so much joy, and I don’t feel whole without you.”
Tom ends the letter by expressing hope that Cat can “remember the man you fell in love with” and understand that, despite his mistakes, he has “a good heart” and good intentions. He adds, “I know I used to make you happy, and I can again if you let me. We work so well together, and we have an amazing family that’s worth fighting for.”
Cat didn’t reveal when she received the letter but recently shared a photo from her daughter Jayda’s 11th birthday, the last celebration they had together.
She explained that she’s speaking out now because she didn’t believe her earlier efforts would “help bring my babies home.” In her post, she wrote, “The police are now offering a large reward and a chance of immunity, so I’ve found the courage to break my silence, hoping anyone with information will come forward. I’m aware of the hurtful rumors, but I ask that you know me before passing judgment.”
Police reported they’ve received 100 new tips since ramping up their search for the children, with 40 being “worthy” of further investigation. Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said, “While we can’t share details during the ongoing investigation, we’re committed to finding a resolution as soon as possible.”
They also announced an $80,000 reward for information.