The young woman's grieving father and sister made themselves available to the reporter. Why isn't that equally condemned by you in their time of sorrow? That connection may have happened through an intermediary or via social media. Mr. Thorp's parents also have arrived from Australia. It's very possible that Mr. Nieri, as the family spokesperson, asked on behalf of the reporter if James Thorp or his parents would like to speak with her, and they politely declined -- maybe even twice, before you sink your teeth into the plural "attempts."
It's time to stop proving how much you don't understand.