Tromp family mystery journey: ‘No threats’ to family, police say
THE Tromp family, who fled their Yarra Ranges home on a bizarre 1500km road trip, were not being followed or under financial pressure as new details emerged about their journey.
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A FAMILY who fled their Yarra Ranges home on a bizarre 1500km road trip were not being threatened, followed or under financial pressure.
New details emerged on Friday of the Tromp family’s journey as police confirmed one daughter had been found dazed and hiding in the back of a ute — while her sister fled in an allegedly stolen vehicle.
‘SHE HAD NO IDEA WHERE SHE WAS’
Father of three Mark Tromp, a popular Silvan berry farmer, was still missing overnight. He feared that his family, who run a successful redcurrant farm, were being followed and in danger.
But Sgt Mark Knight said there was no one standing over the family, and the Tromps did not have crime links or know of anyone out to harm them.
“We can categorically say there was no one following any of them,” Sgt Knight said. “There has been no physical threat to this family at all. It was in their minds.”
Police were investigating a number of reported sightings of Mr Tromp in NSW on Friday. There were also claims that Mr Tromp broke into a motel in Wangaratta on Thursday night. Owners at the Millers Cottage Motel on Wangaratta Rd found a room door ajar about 9.30am on Friday. The bathroom appeared to have been used, the bed may have been slept in and a muesli bar wrapper was on the floor.
Mr Tromp was last officially seen near bushland in Wangaratta on Wednesday night. Wife Jacoba and children Riana, 29, Mitchell, 25, and Ella, 22, have all been found.
The Tromps’ home had been left open after they fled on Monday and police found passports, phones, credit cards and piles of business records around the house. Mrs Tromp and Riana were on Friday night undertaking mental health assessments.
They crossed the NSW border before Mitchell got out of the car at Kelso near Bathurst early on Tuesday.
Ella and Riana broke away from their parents at the Jenolan Caves, allegedly stealing a ute and travelling to Goulburn, where they split up. Riana was later found in the back of a stranger’s ute. It’s understood Ella drove the first ute home.
Mr Tromp’s mother, Wilma, on Friday said: “The whole family is really appealing for Mark to come home.”
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