A family of five’s road trip across the country has left police baffled when two members ended up in hospital and another is still missing.
Police are describing the events as a ‘bizarre set of circumstances’ after the family became separated during a trip to New South Wales from Victoria; father Mark Tromp is still missing, News.com.au reports.
The family left their Silvan home in Victoria on Monday, August 29 and headed to NSW. Son Mitchell, 25, left the group at Bathurst and headed home. On Tuesday, daughters Ella, 22, and Riana, 29, left their parents at Jonolan Caves to make their way home, however they soon split up at Goulburn.
Riana was found distressed beside a highway and is now in Goulburn District Hospital.
Mother Jacoba Tromp, 53, was also found in an ‘agitated state’ and is currently in hospital near Canberra.
Ella and Mitchell returned home safe and well, however Police are still searching for Mark.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports, Mark was last seen running away from the family car in Wangaratta. A couple told the newspaper he ‘stalked’ them before running off.
Police told reporters life stresses caused the family to leave their home in Victoria.
Mitchell said: ‘It was a build-up of different, normal every day events, just pressure and it slowly got worse as the days went by.
‘The best way to describe it is like a movie. I’ve never seen anyone act like this or conduct themselves in this way.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it — it’s really hard to explain or put a word on it but they were just fearing their lives and then they decided to flee.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
