In August 2016, the Tromp family — parents Mark and Jacoba and their three adult children, Riana, Mitchell, and Ella — abruptly left their home in Silvan, Victoria, Australia, and embarked on a bizarre, unplanned road trip across the country. What makes the case truly strange is that they left behind their phones, passports, and credit cards, apparently fleeing from a perceived threat that no one else could identify. The trip quickly unraveled into chaos. Mitchell left the group early and went back home. The rest continued on erratically, splitting up further as the journey progressed. At various points, family members disappeared, were found disoriented or in strange places, and one (Ella) even stole a car to get home. Eventually, all members were found safe, but the mystery remained — why did they flee? What were they afraid of? Theories have included:
