Missing Melbourne mother Jacoba Tromp found alive

POLICE believe a Melbourne couple feared for their lives after vanishing on a bizarre family trip, but mystery still surrounds the whereabouts of husband and father-of-three, Mark Tromp.

A MELBOURNE couple thought they were being followed and feared for their lives after vanishing on a bizarre family trip, police say.

Jacoba Tromp has been found alive at a country hospital in NSW after two days missing but mystery surrounds the whereabouts of her husband Mark as police search for him in the Wangaratta area some 350km away.

Police fear Mr Tromp, 53, may not want to be found.

Mrs Tromp, 53, presented herself to the Yass District Hospital, 50km north of Canberra. Her condition is not yet known.

Detectives will interview Mrs Tromp today.

Jacoba and Mark Tromp with daughter Ella at their Silvan farm.

Victorian police from Monbulk told The Daily Telegraph the missing parents had a “paranoid mental breakdown” and fled their Melbourne home out of fear for their lives.

“We know there was a trigger on Monday which caused them to leave the family home together,” the officer said.

“We believe Mark has just cracked and fear his mental health is rapidly deteriorating.

“We are very glad his wife has been found so now all of our energy will be focused on finding Mark.

“We fear his is on pretty bad shape mentally.

“I want to stress that the story about them being chased is bullshit. Total rubbish. They were just being very paranoid.”

The family is believed to have driven to Bathurst and then the Jenolan Caves area in NSW, arriving in the early hours on Tuesday.

Jacoba Tromp.

Missing Victorian man Mark Tromp.

But during the car trip, the three children decided they did not want to continue on as their parents became increasingly mentally distressed.

The parents left the caves together after separating from their children, and arrived in Wangaratta last night in their daughter’s silver Peugeot.

They later separated and headed in different directions.

Mr Tromp changed his clothing.

Mrs Tromp then took public transport to Yass where she attempted to book into a motel.

She was helped by a member of the public who took her to Yass Hospital.

Police said the woman walked into the hospital about midday. Hospital staff recognised the woman and called police.

“We are very anxious to speak with her,” an officer said.

“We don’t know what condition she is in but we know Mark, her husband, is not with her.

“We are confident we will find him as well though because a male was sighted running away from their abandoned car earlier.

“It was dark and the description is vague but we are hopeful.”

The movements of the Tromps in the days before their disappearance.

Police believe Mr and Mrs Tromp feared they were being followed and had been of poor mental health.

The pair and their adult children Mitchell, 25, Ella, 22, and Riana, 29, left their home on Monday amid family stress.

Police have concerns for Mr Tromp’s welfare and fear he may be deliberately avoiding being found.

Police first became aware of the family on Tuesday when Riana was found under mental stress on the side of the road in Goulburn, NSW, after she split from her sister Ella.

She is still being treated in hospital and is supported by relatives.

NSW police contacted Victorian police after finding Riana, and local officers checked on the family home.

The Silvan home of Jacoba and Mark Tromp. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Business paperwork, passports and phones were located at the house.

The doors of the home were wide open and the car keys had been left in vehicles.

Mitchell and Ella later arrived home separately. Ella had acquired a car and driven home.

Mitchell took public transport to Sydney after being the first to split from the family trip at Kelso, outside Bathurst. He then took an overnight train and arrived at the family’s Silvan property on Wednesday morning.

Ella and Mitchell Tromp fear for their missing father. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

KIDS PLEAD FOR DAD TO COME FORWARD

Mitchell Tromp and Ella Tromp today pleaded for their dad to make contact as they declared their parents “the best people in the world”.

The couple’s children said family and life pressures had built up and the family wanted to get away together.

Mitchell Tromp said: “I’ve never seen anyone like this or anyone conduct themselves in this way”.

“I just really want my dad to be found.

“He’s not dangerous, he’s my mate, my father. I love him.”

Police found the family’s Silvan home open and with business papers strewn through the house.

Sgt Mark Knight said it was one of the most bizarre cases he had encountered in his career.

The family fled their home on Monday after a “build up” of financial and family stresses, Sgt Knight said.

They left without their credit cards or passports.

Only Mitchell had his phone, but he voluntarily threw it out the window at Warburton.

All three adult children decided to leave the family trip and separated at different times. They have all since returned to Victoria.

A car similar to the missing couple’s.

Originally published as Missing Melbourne mother Jacoba Tromp found alive