Youth Discovered Deceased After Untrue Allegations of Taking Cremated Remains
A 14-year-old boy was discovered deceased only a few days following being wrongly blamed of stealing the cremated remains of a dead infant during a burglary, an inquest has heard.
Tragic Finding
The young boy's mother and father discovered his body in his room at his Connah's Quay residence on 19 November 2021.
Untrue Allegations Begin
The inquest heard how his parent received a message on 8 November 2021 via online platforms, from a woman inquiring if her son was her offspring. The communication stated: "Inform him thanks for burgling my flat."
In a testimony presented to the court, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the news, claiming her infant's remains had been taken in a burglary - a claim which was untrue.
Police Inquiry
An official inquiry from police later concluded the alleged burglary victim had "provided false information" and "evidence shows that said items was not stolen in the beginning".
News coverage about the alleged stolen remains generated social media comments, and although the teenager was not identified in the messages, his mother said people "understood it was him".
The "online posts were extremely upsetting", she said.
Mental Health Effect
She explained that Kai had been identified with mild ADHD, and as part of that condition, other peoples' opinions genuinely mattered to him.
"This must 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 pending further inquiry.
Authorities said they would be in contact, the inquest heard, but had not reached out to the family by the moment of his death.
Isolation and Anxiety
His mother said Kai "became isolated" after the arrest and "would keep asking me whether I had heard anything from the authorities", because his condition meant sometimes "certain periods could seem like days".
When she spoke to him about the alleged incident, she said her son told her he had gone into the residence because the woman who resided there had said he could use the bathroom whenever he needed, but refuted removing anything.
Digital Bullying
In a joint statement between her and her spouse, Mrs Lloyd said her son was being harassed online after the accusations.
The inquest learned that a 19-year-old urged Kai to end his life.
She had no concerns on the night before he passed away, explaining how she had heard him "laughing and joking".
She portrayed him as a "caring, loving" young man, and said her "relatives is completely shattered".
He had been "clearly hiding his concerns", she said, noting that he could not bear to have anyone "have negative thoughts of him".
School Reaction
The hearing heard from educational personnel at the local High School.
On 8 November, she "heard some students talking that Kai had been arrested and that was the initial I heard".
"He informed me... he'd done nothing wrong," she continued.
After the conversation, the staff member said she rang Kai's parents' landline and provided a voicemail saying she had spoken to Kai about the allegations.
The court learned his family said they did not got that message.
Formal Finding
Senior investigator told the hearing he would await documents regarding what enhancements had been made to handling individuals with ADHD, before determining whether he should make a prevention of future fatalities report.
Providing a descriptive conclusion, he said: "Around 8 November 2021, unsupported accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old individual.
"Likely falsehoods were subsequently embellished and exaggerated through the medium of social media.
"During November 11th, he was questioned by the authorities and after his questioning he was freed whilst investigations continued."
The coroner determined: "Exists no proof that the acts or omissions of any agency caused or added to his passing and although it was the outcome of a personal act it is impossible to determine his purpose."