A 16-year-old boy from Western Australia is facing life alone after the deaths of his father, mother and four siblings.
Riley Bolton, described by his family as a “very shy teenager,” has suffered more grief than most in his life.
His father died last month. This followed the death of his mother from leukemia, the suicide of his two brothers, the death of his sister in a car accident, and the death in the crib of his little brother.
Riley’s relatives, from the Goreng-Noongar community in Gnowangerup, a sheep-herding town 370 kilometers southeast of Perth, have begun a GoFundMe to help the teenager.
After Riley’s father died, his family gave Daily Mail Australia permission to tell the teenager’s story and publish photographs of him and his relatives.
Riley’s cousin Justyne Eades said her situation was “immensely difficult” for someone so young.
“Riley was not only orphaned by the death of both of his parents, but he also lost his four siblings,” Justyne said.
‘His parents lost their first child, Adam, to SIDS when he was five weeks old, his six-year-old sister tragically died in a car accident in 2009, and his two older brothers committed suicide in 2013 and 2018.
Riley (above with his grandmother Florence) has been orphaned after the death of his father last month, followed by the death of his mother, three brothers and sister.
Riley Bolton’s father Duane Bradley Mourish Snr (above) has died, leaving the 16-year-old with no immediate family.
‘It is impossible to describe the immense pain Riley has endured in her young life so far.
“Riley is a young man of very few words, but he has many of the characteristics of his late mother and sister. He is a beautiful soul with a bright smile like his mother’s, when you are lucky enough to find one.
Under the title “Please support Riley in her hour of need,” Justyne Eades wrote: “With Riley’s permission, We have been asked to create this GoFundMe to raise much-needed funds to help him contribute towards his late father’s burial costs.
“As his older cousin, I am hopeful that our family and community at large will be willing to help Riley by making a donation to contribute to his beloved father’s funeral.”
The family’s run of bad luck began in August 1989, when baby Adam Lee Bolton died and was buried in Gnowangerup Cemetery.
Riley’s mother Trina (above left) died in 2017, followed five weeks later by her son Duane Jr (above right). Regan (below left) took her own life at age 19 in 2013, and her six-year-old sister Janaya (below right) died in a car accident in 2009.
Riley (above, right) has experienced tragedy in her family from a young age.
A grave in Gnowangerup Cemetery for three family members: Adam, who died of SIDS in 1989, Janaya, who died in a car accident exactly 20 years later, and Regan, who took her own life in 2013.
According to Riley’s aunt, Carleen Eades, Adam’s parents, Trina and Duane Mourish Sr., had more children, Duane Jr. and Regan, a daughter, Janaya and Riley.
Tragedy struck again on the 20th anniversary of Adam’s death from SIDS.
In 2009, her father, Duane Bradley Mourish Snr, was driving back to Gnowangerup from Albany when his car was involved in an accident in the Stirling Ranges and Janaya died.
Riley’s grandmother, Florence, He later revealed to ABC that after his sister’s death, the older siblings “didn’t get enough counseling.” for her pain and in 2013, Regan took her own life.
Regan had been under “stress about an upcoming court case” and Carleen Eades said that years after Janaya’s death, he “felt responsible and couldn’t live with himself.”
The day after returning from Albany court, Regan took his own life.
“He was only 19,” Carleen said, “then Trina got leukemia in 2015… and passed away in 2017 at the age of 46.”
Riley is now a shy teenager with “very few words,” but he has loved motorcycles since he was little, according to his cousin.
Riley (above) ‘has many of the characteristics of her late mother and sister. A beautiful soul with a bright smile like her mother’s, when you’re lucky enough to find one.
Robbie Miniter OAM, a family friend, local councilor and Indigenous mental health activist, said that on the same day Riley’s mother was buried in December 2017, the boy’s grandfather James died of a heart attack.
“It’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen in my life,” Miniter said of the series of deaths in the Bolton-Mourish family.
Five weeks after Trina’s death, Carleen said Riley’s older brother, Duane Jr, took his own life at the age of 27 because “he couldn’t live without his mother, they were so close.”
Riley went to live with Florence after Trina’s death, and Carleen said that her father, Duane Sr., “became homeless and then I think he got lung cancer.”
Robbie Miniter told Daily Mail Australia that Duane Mourish Sr. probably died “of a broken heart.”
“I don’t think he’s ever gotten over the death of his daughter and they’ve lost a good part of their family,” Miniter said.
The graves of Riley’s mother Trina (left) and brother Duane Jr, who died five weeks apart, in the grounds of Gnowangerup Cemetery in southern Western Australia.
Duane Bradley Bolton-Mourish took his own life five weeks after his mother died, and his aunt said he “lost one family member after another” due to tragedy or trauma.
Miniter said that despite starting his own tutoring business with his own funds, there was still a large gap in mental health services in Gnowangerup with needs he could not afford to fill.
“I’ve spent 20 years in local government and sports development working with communities and trying to break the cycle of alcohol and drug use, and I’m trying to create a forum,” he said.
Carleen Eades said the trauma of loss in Riley’s family and the lack of services in Western Australia’s Great Southern Region likely contributed to the deaths of her older siblings.
“Every time their family lost someone, there was a growing anger and guilt that tore them apart and they couldn’t cope,” he said.
‘The older they got, it seemed like one family member was lost after another.
‘We have four children in our immediate family who have committed suicide, including my son.
Riley Bolton, photographed a few years ago with his father Duane Sr, who recently died leaving the teenager with no immediate family.
‘Men believe that they have to be strong and that they should feel ashamed if they have to go to psychological therapy, and since they are adults they cannot insist.
‘They say “I’m fine” and we don’t notice the signs. With my son the only thing he said was “I’m tired, mom.”
“Trauma goes down generations and we feel like Riley is suffering from trauma.”
Justyne said Riley “adores his nanny” Florence, “and has an absolute love for motorcycles that has been present from a very young age.”
If this has raised any issues for you, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
