When rescuers finally led Tom Phillips’ three children out of the dense woods where they had been hidden for four years, they expected malnourishment, silence, and fear.
What they did not expect was a crumpled notebook page nailed to the wall of their makeshift hut — a “Code of Survival” that Tom forced his children to obey.
The document, written in shaky capital letters, contained five strict rules that the children had lived by every single day. Investigators say the rules reveal the disturbing control Tom exerted over them.
📜 The 5 Shocking Rules
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“Do not talk to strangers. Even if you’re bleeding, even if you’re hungry.”
🔎 The children were trained to distrust every human being outside their father. -
“Never cry after dark.”
🔎 Tom claimed the forest had “spirits that hear tears,” conditioning the kids to bury their emotions. -
“Eat only when I say so.”
🔎 Food was scarce, and meals were rationed like military drills. Any disobedience meant punishment. -
“Erase the word ‘Mother.’”
🔎 Their mother was branded a traitor. The children were forbidden from even whispering about her. -
“If discovered — lie.”
🔎 Tom rehearsed stories with them, preparing the kids to deny the truth if ever found.
🕯️ Investigators Horrified
A senior officer admitted:
“This wasn’t just isolation. It was indoctrination. These rules are evidence of a mind that wanted absolute control.”
💔 The Mother’s Reaction
When shown the page, the children’s mother reportedly collapsed in tears, saying:
“Every line he wrote stole a piece of their childhood. It feels like they were prisoners in his world.”