Sheriff says grain bin death ‘unfortunate, tragic accident’

Authorities not sure why 9-year-old climbed into bin

TOWN OF LIBERTY, Wis. — Officials said Wednesday morning that the boy who died in a grain bin silo in Liberty Thursday was not helping the family fix an auger but had climbed into the bin for unknown reasons.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said 9-year-old Nathan Sensenig had become trapped in a grain bin at 2558 Dry Hollow Road Thursday morning. Rescue crews responded to the farm and attempted rescue operations. Sensenig’s body was found at 12:35 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities initially believed Sensenig was attempting to fix an auger along with family and that’s how he became trapped in the bin.

The sheriff’s office said Wednesday that the investigation found Sensenig had climbed the ladder into the bin for unknown reasons and fell in. Other children told Sensenig’s father that the boy was missing. The father realized the child had fallen into the bin and called 911.

“The investigation into this matter is completed and will be ruled as (an) unfortunate, tragic accident,” the sheriff’s office said.

The auger was found to be inoperable or not plugged in at the time of the incident, the report said.