Youth Discovered Dead After Untrue Accusations of Taking Cremated Remains
One 14-year-old youth was found dead only a few days after being wrongly accused of stealing the cremated remains of a deceased infant during a break-in, an inquest has heard.
Tragic Discovery
Kai Lloyd's mother and father discovered his remains in his bedroom at his Flintshire residence on 19 November 2021.
False Allegations Begin
The investigation heard how his parent received a communication on November 8th, 2021 via online platforms, from a individual asking if Kai was her offspring. The communication stated: "Inform him thanks for breaking into my flat."
In a testimony presented to the proceedings, the mother said the woman had been in the media, asserting her infant's ashes had been taken in a break-in - a claim which was false.
Police Inquiry
An investigation report from police later determined the alleged break-in victim had "provided false information" and "it now appears that said property was never taken in the beginning".
Media reports about the supposed taken remains attracted social media responses, and although Kai was not identified in the messages, his parent said people "knew it was him".
The "social media content were extremely upsetting", she stated.
Emotional Wellbeing Effect
She added that Kai had been identified with moderate ADHD, and as part of that condition, other peoples' opinions really mattered to him.
"This must have hurt him deeply," she commented, "especially when this was not true".
Kai was arrested at home, but nothing was discovered. He was transported to a police station and later freed under investigation.
Authorities said they would be in touch, the hearing learned, but had failed to reached out to the family by the moment of his passing.
Isolation and Anxiety
His parent said Kai "withdrew into himself" after the detention and "would keep asking me whether I had received anything from the police", because his ADHD meant sometimes "a minute could seem like days".
When she talked to him about the supposed burglary, she said her son informed her he had entered the residence because the resident who lived there had said he could use the bathroom whenever he needed, but denied taking anything.
Digital Bullying
In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, Mrs Lloyd said her son was being harassed online after the accusations.
The proceedings heard that a young adult encouraged Kai to end his life.
She had no worries on the night before he passed away, explaining how she had heard him "laughing and teasing".
She portrayed him as a "caring, loving" boy, and said her "family is completely shattered".
He had been "clearly hiding his concerns", she said, adding that he could not bear to have anybody "think bad of him".
School Response
The hearing heard from school staff at Connah's Quay High School.
On 8 November, she "heard some students discussing that the student had been detained and that was the initial I learned".
"He informed me... he'd done nothing wrong," she continued.
After the discussion, the staff member said she rang the family's parents' telephone and provided a voicemail saying she had communicated to Kai about the allegations.
The court learned his family said they never receive that communication.
Formal Finding
Senior investigator informed the hearing he would wait for reports regarding what improvements had been made to handling suspects with the condition, before deciding whether he should make a avoidance of future fatalities report.
Delivering a narrative conclusion, he stated: "Around November 8th, 2021, unsupported allegations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old child.
"Likely falsehoods were subsequently exaggerated and amplified through the platform of social media.
"On 11 November, he was interviewed by the authorities and following his questioning he was freed while investigations continued."
The coroner determined: "There is no proof that the acts or omissions of any organization led to or contributed to his passing and although it was the result of a personal action it is not possible to discern his intent."