Young boy found dead in the boot of a hot car at Mooroopna is identified – as tributes flow for the ‘shining star’

The 10-year-old boy who was found dead in a car boot after a game of hide-and-seek ended in tragedy has been identified. 

Bentley took his mother’s car keys and climbed into the boot of the car parked on Gange Street at Mooroopna, 180km north of Melbourne, at 3.30pm on Sunday.

His mum had been resting when she later discovered the keys were missing.

She rushed to the car and discovered her son, who Ambulance Victoria said had likely died from a cardiac arrest after becoming trapped in the car for a ‘few hours’. 

Temperatures soared to 35C in regional Victoria Sunday and 40C on Monday amid warnings cabin temperatures could more than double in summer months. 

Lainey Sutton said her nephew’s death was a ‘tragic end to a game of hide and seek’. 

‘December 15th will forever be the day that we pause for a moment to remember our inquisitive, car loving, Minecraft enthusiastic, neurodiverse 10-year-old Bentley,’ she wrote on a GoFundMe for the 10-year-old. 

‘As a family, our hearts are broken as we try to find some sense in a place that no longer feels whole.

‘This devastating tragedy comes two weeks after the loss of Bentley’s grandmother, which is more than enough loss for one family. 

‘As you could understand, the heartache and costs of dealing with the loss of one family member is numbing, let alone losing a second in such a short time frame.

‘We understand that this time of the year can be financially and emotionally difficult for anyone. It is with heavy hearts that we ask for financial support to help us give our precious Bentley the send off he deserves.’

It comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed Bentley and his mother had been attending a traditional Christmas catch-up at the Mooroopna home on Sunday. 

The owner of that house, who did not wish to be named, refused to speculate if the boy became stuck in the boot while playing hide and seek with her children.

‘Yeah, well, it’s not something I can talk about. She’s told me to say nothing,’ she said.

Although gagged from speaking, the woman said it was important for people to know that her friend had done nothing wrong.

‘If it was my child I would talk,’ she said. 

‘I would tell you what I know because I would hate for anyone to ever think the worst of someone who does their best for their child. 

‘It was a freak accident. It was the worst… the weather didn’t help.’

The Gange Street property features a children’s playground, with swings, slides and a cubby house among a treasure trove of play equipment visible in the front yard.

Two toddlers continued to play in the yard on Monday where just a day earlier, their young mate met his tragic demise.

A resident said she heard loud screams coming from down the street at 3.30pm and rushed out to help. 

‘Don’t go over there,’ another neighbour told her. 

The woman said all of the car’s doors and boot were open and that other children were privy to the ‘distressing scene’. 

‘I feel sorry for those kids, it was terrible,’ she told the Herald Sun. 

A second resident said they were told the boy had been in the boot for a ‘few hours’. 

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the death was not being treated as suspicious and that an investigation had been launched. 

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.