Bevan Spencer von Einem was convicted in 1984 for the abduction and murder of 15-year-old Richard Kelvin. He died in prison in 2025, where he was after being sentenced to life. His passing was declared by Premier Peter Malinauskas. He told reporters that it upset him that von Einem would not work with investigators while in prison. The unsolved cases of missing children like the Beaumont children still plague South Australians and lead to extensive searches for years afterwards.
As recently as the beginning of 2025, authorities began a fourth search for the Beaumont children’s remains. Their tireless campaigning work shone a spotlight on the former Castalloy site, located in western Adelaide. This search was the third at this site, the first two being digs in 2013 and 2018. Nevertheless, after all these years, the mystery of the Beaumont children’s disappearance remains untouched.
Amidst all of this innovation, South Australia was caught in an environmental disaster as a major toxic algal bloom was wreaking havoc along the coastline. In early October, the state and federal governments committed $102.5 million to address the crisis. The damages so far have already surpassed tens of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, local communities are ensnared in narratives of the disappeared. Another one is the story of Gus Lamont and Valerie, the sausage dog who survived 529 days in the wilderness.
Bevan Spencer von Einem’s Death and Its Impact
Bevan Spencer von Einem served over half of his life in prison for his terrible crime against Richard Kelvin. He died of cancer in prison in December 2025 aged 66. Yet for some reason, he could not admit that his actions had irrevocably changed all of these lives—especially the family of his young victim.
Premier Peter Malinauskas commented on von Einem’s death, stating, “Most unforgivably, Bevan Spencer von Einem refused to cooperate with police despite having had every opportunity to do so.” His inaction allowed far too many questions to go unanswered and families to grieve without closure.
Authorities had hoped that von Einem might provide vital information regarding other unsolved cases, including that of the Beaumont children. Yet, it seems he brought all the wisdom he never shared with him to the grave. The Premier emphasized the profound tragedy of this lost opportunity for truth: “The greatest tragedy is that they may never know the full truth because of his deliberate and selfish silence.”
The police are still pursuing cold cases related to von Einem. South Australian Police Minister Blair Boyer highlighted the lifelong legacy of these open cases. He stated, “We’ve had those other cases in the past, like the Beaumonts, that remain unsolved, and I think the memories of that live with South Australians.”
Renewed Search Efforts for the Beaumont Children
A private seven-day dig happened earlier in 2025 at the Castalloy site before it was sold. This move was in direct response to the increasing public outcry and demand for children’s safety. Investigators have zeroed in on this site, pictured, searching for the remains of the Beaumont children. The children disappeared in 1966, and this spot has become a central aspect of the search.
Led by supportive MP Frank Pangallo, this inquiry was an example of a joined up approach to leaving “no stone unturned”. Although past searches had not uncovered anything new, Pangallo had hoped that they would turn up some new evidence.
“This is a case of us making sure that we leave no stone unturned.” – ABC News
Community members expressed their hopes that this latest endeavor would finally bring closure to a case that has long haunted South Australians. The resulting search efforts poured money and resources into the importance of child safety. They further highlighted the importance of communities being on guard, harkening back to past instances such as the Beaumont children.
Environmental Challenges and Missing Persons
While South Australia grappled with its historical crimes, it simultaneously faced environmental challenges due to an extensive algal bloom affecting its coastline. This bizarre phenomenon started to wash up on shores starting in March 2025 with drastic negative impacts on local ecosystems and economies.
This exhaustive and deadly algal bloom spurred swift and coordinated action from both state and federal governments. In October, they released a $102.5 million summer plan to tackle the problem. State and federal officials commended the long-term work that’s helped to lessen the bloom’s impact. They do think it will last for a bit.
“We can’t hide our head in the sand and pretend that this is somehow a phenomenon that might have somehow happened without climate change.” – then SA environment minister Susan Close
Alongside these environmental concerns, stories of other missing people like four-year-old Gus Lamont have come to light. Gus went missing on September 27 from his family’s remote outback property. Police went back to Yunta for searches on three occasions, thinking he could have just walked off from home.
Police had called Gus a happy, adventurous, and strong-willed child as well as quiet, while his family said they were committed to finding him. Even as police doubled down on their search for Gus, they promised the public that they were doing everything to ensure children were not endangered.
