Spencer Benbolt Junior, 13, was killed when an industrial bin he was sleeping in with his two friends was emptied by a council worker
Investigators have interviewed the family of a young boy who died after crawling into an industrial bin in an attempt to understand why he was sleeping rough on the street that night.
Spencer Benbolt Junior, 13, and his two friends aged 11 and 12, were inside the dumpster in Port Lincoln on South Australia’s west coast when it was emptied by a council worker at 5.20am on Tuesday.
Spencer – known as Budda to his loved ones – sustained catastrophic injuries and died at the scene while the other two boys walked away unscathed.
The trio had been wandering the streets for hours on Monday night before seeking shelter in the bin next to a McDonald’s as the temperature fell to 13C and the wind and rain set in.
Friends of the youngster have suggested he was supporting his two mates on an ‘adventure’ that night.
The police investigation into Spencer’s death shifted to his family home on Tuesday as officers try to uncover why he was sleeping in the bin when he had his own bed to return to.
Veteran AFL star Eddie Betts – who was born in the town – said the Port Lincoln community was rallying around Spencer’s family and rejected the idea the boy was homeless.
Friends have said Spencer was looking after his two mates in the dumpster when he climbed in
Carlton star Eddie Betts pictured with his wife Anna Scullie. He has rejected the idea the boy was homeless and said Aboriginal communities always have an ‘open door to our kids no matter what’
The Carlton forward said Indigenous communities always take in one of their own regardless of the circumstances.
‘It’s important to know that in Aboriginal families we always open the door to our kids no matter what, so the reporting of [him] being homeless is false,’ he told The Adelaide Advertiser.
‘The Port Lincoln community is devastated by the death in such tragic and devastating circumstances.
‘Being a big mob, we all know each other and care for each other and our kids’ safety is always important to us uncles, aunties and elders.’
South Australian MP Connie Bonaros has called for an independent inquiry to be launched to probe all the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The probe would look into ‘any failures, shortcomings or neglect of obligations and responsibilities’ and examine any allegations of neglect or abuse of process by government staff.
Munnalita Kojcic and her son arrived at the scene to lay flowers on Wednesday, explaining they were heartbroken when they learned what happened to Spencer
Friends and family have said the only reason Spencer got into the bin was because he didn’t want to leave his two younger mates in there alone.
They visited the Grand Tasman Hotel about 12.30am to ask for glasses of water before walking six minutes to the edge of town toward the McDonald’s, where they crawled into the industrial bin and fell asleep.
On Wednesday, Spencer’s loved ones began arriving at his family home with supplies of soft drinks and snacks to begin a period of cultural grieving period.
A family member said they would stick together as they tried to come to terms with the tragedy.
‘There’s a certain way we grieve in our culture,’ she said. ‘We have our family here now and we need to be together.’
Pictured: The scene where Spencer Benbolt Junior, 13, died after he and two friends fell asleep in a bin, which was then collected by a garbage truck
Groups of teenagers gathered at Spencer’s family home, making trips to the local corner store to pick up supplies
Members of Spencer’s family and some of his loved ones gathered at the Port Lincoln home, bringing with them supplies
Friends say Spencer had a warm bed and loving family where he could have spent the night, but instead chose to stick close to his mates as they walked the deserted streets of their hometown.
A woman whose children went to school with Spencer and his mates, said his peers will ‘remember him as a hero’ who looked out for his mates, despite knowing he could gone home to a warm bed.
‘It’s a tragic situation. One of his friends was a pretty regular runaway and it seems like he might’ve just stuck by his mates on their adventure rather than heading home,’ she said.
One relative posted on Facebook saying Spencer was just ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’.
Spencer’s cousin described him as a ‘really good kid’ who always had a smile on his face, who had ‘been through a lot of s**t’
Family arrived at the home on Wednesday, bringing with them cars full of supplies to begin their mourning period
‘Spencer had a loving home to go to, many aunties, uncles, nanas, grandfathers live not far from the township,’ the relative wrote, after some in the town said he didn’t want to go home on Monday night.
‘He was brought up along the coast, fishing, hunting and camping. He was a good sweet boy with a bright smile who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.’
‘His friends might be able to say why they thought the bin was a good idea, but I don’t think we’ll know what he was thinking,’ one said about the boys’ decision to sleep in the bin.
‘Nobody else can answer that question now.’
One mother said without a clear picture of what happened, rumours were running wild about what the boys were doing out so late at night – and the stability of their home environment.
Locals arrived at the scene to pay their respects to little Spencer throughout Wednesday (pictured)
Family and loved ones have gathered to mourn Spencer’s death and try to understand the tragedy
Spencer’s school flew the Aboriginal flag at half mast on Wednesday in tribute to him
She said many Australians would be surprised at the ‘unique family dynamics’ in Port Lincoln.
‘What’s happened is tragic. It might just be a matter of not having enough resources to cope with the demand, but we all need to be keeping the kids in this town safe and keeping a close eye on them.’
The Port Lincoln Aboriginal Community Centre said Spencer’s parents and extended family were struggling to cope with his death.
‘They’re just heartbroken,’ a spokeswoman said. ‘They’re really shocked and confused, and at the moment, we just need to let them grieve.’
‘It’s a huge loss for them and for our entire community.’
Family gathered at the home in Port Lincoln to begin a period of mourning
All three boys reportedly fell asleep inside the dumpster toward the back of Repco (pictured) and were awoken about 5.20am on Tuesday as it was being emptied into the garbage truck. The industrial bin had been removed by morning
At the home on Wednesday, family milled in the front yard, supporting one another and speaking quietly amongst themselves as people came and went.
A group of teenagers made several trips to the local corner store to stock up on supplies, buying 1.25 litre bottles of coke and snacks. They appeared somber as they walked silently, side by side, up and down the streets.
One local mother whose seven-year-old son attends school in the area said it beggars belief what would compel the boys to climb into the dumpster.
The trio walked six minutes out of town toward the McDonald’s after midnight and remained in a nearby dumpster until morning
The grizzly scene unfolded in Port Lincoln – a small coastal town west of Adelaide in South Australia
Pictured: A handwritten note left for Spencer at the scene of the tragedy
Munnalita Kojcic said the bin had grates across the front section which would’ve allowed the boys to breathe inside it even with the lid closed.
Still, she questioned why they felt they couldn’t seek shelter in a community home or local service.
‘Even if they’d done something wrong or they’d run away, they deserved to know there was somewhere safe and warm they could go to for a bed, no questions asked.
The 47-year-old had taken her son, Marius, out of school for the morning so they could drop flowers at the scene of the tragic accident.
‘My heart just breaks for everyone involved.’
A SafeWork SA inspector arrived at the scene on Wednesday morning to inspect and speak with local businesses
The 13-year-old sustained catastrophic injuries and died at the scene. Pictured: Spencer Benbolt Junior, known as to his loved ones as Budda
Lincoln Gardens Primary School, where Spencer was a student, flew an Aboriginal flag at half mast on Wednesday.
Rowena Fox, the local Education Department director, spoke outside the school on Wednesday morning where she reflected on the boy’s humour and knack for storytelling.
‘This morning we spoke about his unique talent for storytelling and how people warmed to him for his lovely personality and sense of humour,’ she said.
‘There is a deep sense of sadness and loss across which is being keenly felt by those who knew him well.’
Counsellors are meeting with individual students and with Spencer’s peer group to ‘help them come to terms with what has happened’.
Staff have also been offered support.
The trio stopped off at the Grand Tasman Hotel, just a six-minute walk away, about 12.30am to ask for glasses of water to drink
The cold streets of Port Lincoln were deserted on Tuesday night, and locals say it’s usually pretty quiet in town after dark – particularly during the week
Lollipops attached to Kids Helpline support pamphlets were left at the scene of Spencer’s death
Locals set up a small memorial complete with flowers, handwritten notes, teddy bears and lollipops attached to the Kids Helpline number for others to take.
Spencer’s cousin Montanah Elvey described him as a ‘really good kid’ who always had a smile on his face.
‘He was brave, tough. He’s been through a lot of s**t and he is a very strong child,’ she said through tears on Tuesday.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
SafeWork SA is investigating. They returned to the scene on Wednesday to inspect the area and speak with staff both at the McDonald’s and the Repco store.
Locals set up a small memorial complete with flowers, handwritten notes, teddy bears and lollipops attached to the Kids Helpline number for others to take
Pictured: The scene where a boy died after he was found sleeping in a bin near a McDonald’s drive-thru with two others
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