Theft charges dropped as bizarre Tromp family saga draws to a close
The bizarre Tromp family saga appears to have drawn to a close with the car theft charges against daughter Ella dropped.
Seven months after they embarked on a paranoia-fuelled road trip that fascinated much of the country, the Tromp family is back working on the family farm outside Melbourne.
Led by parents Jacoba , 53, and Mark, 51, the Tromp’s three adult children, Riana, 29, Mitchell, 25, and Ella, 22, were persuaded to abandon their family home immediately because “people were after” their father.
Mitchell was the first to leave the family car when his family demanded he ditch his mobile phone, while the rest of the family continued travelling to the Jenolan Caves, west of the Blue Mountains.
Noticing their parents were “not well”, the sisters stole a ute and left their parents in Goulburn before they too became separated.
Over a period of five days, one-by-one each member of the family reappeared alive and well.
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Their father eventually took responsibility for the bizarre disappearance but with the vehicle theft charges against Ella dating to mid last year now dropped, the family are looking to finalise their return to normality.
Following the manhunt, Mr Tromp expressed "deep gratitude" to police and health care professionals and acknowledged "the burden" on community resources caused by recent events.
“I spoke with her brother Mitchell last week and he said the whole family is back to work and doing really well,” Monbulk Police Sergeant Mark Knight said.
“The family is relieved, Ella can move on with her life now.”
The tight-knit family are now back living the farm life they were previously accustomed to, selling their red berries and operating a pick your own fruit tour from the grounds.
