Adolescent Discovered Dead Following False Allegations of Stealing Cremated Remains

One 14-year-old youth was discovered deceased only a few days following being wrongly blamed of taking the ashes of a deceased baby during a break-in, an inquest has heard.

Heartbreaking Finding

Kai Lloyd's mother and father found his remains in his bedroom at his Connah's Quay residence on 19 November 2021.

False Accusations Start

The investigation learned how his mother got a message on 8 November 2021 via online platforms, from a individual asking if Kai was her child. The message stated: "Inform him thanks for burgling my apartment."

In a testimony presented to the proceedings, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the news, asserting her baby's ashes had been stolen in a break-in - a claim which was false.

Police Investigation

An investigation report from authorities later concluded the supposed burglary complainant had "lied to police" and "it now appears that the items was never taken in the first place".

News coverage about the supposed taken ashes generated social media responses, and although the teenager was not named in the posts, his parent said individuals "knew it was him".

The "online posts were extremely upsetting", she said.

Emotional Health Effect

She added that Kai had been diagnosed with moderate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that disorder, other peoples' views really were important to him.

"It would have hurt him deeply," she commented, "especially when this was not true".

The teenager was detained at his residence, but nothing was discovered. He was taken to a law enforcement facility and later freed under investigation.

Police said they would be in touch, the inquest heard, but had failed to reached out to the family by the time of his passing.

Isolation and Anxiety

His parent said Kai "withdrew into himself" after the detention and "would keep asking me whether I had heard anything from the authorities", because his condition meant sometimes "a minute could feel like days".

When she talked to him about the alleged burglary, she said her son told her he had gone into the house because the resident who resided there had said he could use the toilet whenever he wanted, but refuted removing anything.

Digital Bullying

In a joint statement between her and her spouse, the mother said her son was being bullied online after the allegations.

The proceedings learned that one 19-year-old encouraged Kai to kill himself.

She had no worries on the night before he passed away, explaining how she had heard him "laughing and teasing".

She described him as a "compassionate, loving" young man, and said her "relatives is totally shattered".

He had been "obviously hiding his concerns", she stated, noting that he could not bear to have anybody "have negative thoughts of him".

School Response

The hearing received testimony from educational personnel at Connah's Quay High School.

On 8 November, she "heard some students talking that Kai had been arrested and that was the initial I learned".

"He told me... he'd was innocent," she added.

After the conversation, the educator said she called the family's family telephone and left a voicemail saying she had communicated to Kai about the allegations.

The court heard his family said they did not receive that message.

Formal Finding

Senior coroner told the inquest he would wait for reports regarding what improvements had been made to dealing with individuals with ADHD, before deciding whether he should make a prevention of subsequent deaths report.

Providing a narrative conclusion, he stated: "Around November 8th, 2021, unsupported allegations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a young individual.

"Probably untruths were subsequently exaggerated and exaggerated through the platform of social media.

"During November 11th, he was interviewed by the police and following his interview he was freed while inquiries proceeded."

The coroner concluded: "Exists no evidence that the acts or omissions of any organization led to or contributed to his death and although it was the outcome of a self-inflicted act it is not possible to discern his intent."