Teenager Discovered Dead After Untrue Accusations of Stealing Cremated Remains
A teenage youth was found dead just days following being falsely blamed of stealing the cremated remains of a deceased infant during a break-in, a coroner's inquiry has learned.
Tragic Finding
The young boy's parents found his body in his bedroom at his Connah's Quay residence on November 19th, 2021.
False Accusations Begin
The investigation learned how his parent got a message on 8 November 2021 via online platforms, from a individual inquiring if her son was her child. The communication added: "Inform him appreciation for burgling my apartment."
In a statement read to the court, the mother said the individual had been in the media, claiming her infant's remains had been stolen in a break-in - a claim which was false.
Law Enforcement Investigation
An investigation report from police later determined the supposed burglary complainant had "provided false information" and "evidence shows that the property was not taken in the first place".
News coverage about the supposed stolen ashes attracted social media comments, and although Kai was not identified in the posts, his parent said people "knew it was him".
The "social media content were really upsetting", she said.
Mental Wellbeing Impact
She added that Kai had been diagnosed with moderate ADHD, and as part of that disorder, other peoples' views really mattered to him.
"It would have hurt him deeply," she said, "particularly when this was not true".
The teenager was detained at his residence, but nothing was discovered. He was transported to a police station and later freed pending further inquiry.
Police said they would be in contact, the hearing heard, but had failed to reached out to the family by the moment of his death.
Withdrawal and Worry
His parent said Kai "became isolated" after the arrest and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had heard anything from the police", because his condition meant sometimes "a minute could feel like much longer".
When she spoke to him about the supposed incident, she said her son told her he had entered the residence because the woman who resided there had said he could use the toilet whenever he wanted, but refuted taking anything.
Online Harassment
In a combined testimony between her and her husband, the mother said her son was being bullied digitally after the accusations.
The inquest heard that one young adult urged the teenager to end his life.
She had no worries on the night before he passed away, explaining how she had heard him "chuckling and joking".
She described him as a "compassionate, loving" boy, and said her "relatives is totally shattered".
He had been "clearly concealing his worries", she said, adding that he could not bear to have anyone "think bad of him".
Educational Response
The inquest heard from educational personnel at Connah's Quay High School.
On 8 November, she "overheard some students talking that the student had been arrested and that was the initial I heard".
"He informed me... he'd was innocent," she added.
After the conversation, the staff member said she rang the family's parents' landline and left a voicemail saying she had spoken to Kai about the accusations.
The court learned his parents said they did not receive that communication.
Formal Conclusion
Lead coroner told the inquest he would await reports regarding what improvements had been made to dealing with individuals with ADHD, before deciding whether he should make a avoidance of future fatalities report.
Delivering a narrative finding, he stated: "Approximately November 8th, 2021, unsupported allegations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old individual.
"Likely falsehoods were subsequently exaggerated and amplified through the medium of online networks.
"On November 11th, he was questioned by the police and following his questioning he was released whilst inquiries proceeded."
The coroner determined: "There is no evidence that the acts or failures of any agency led to or contributed to his passing and although it was the result of a self-inflicted action it is impossible to discern his purpose."