Teenager Found Deceased After False Allegations of Taking Cremated Remains
A 14-year-old boy was found dead just days following being falsely accused of stealing the ashes of a dead infant during a burglary, an inquest has learned.
Heartbreaking Discovery
Kai Lloyd's parents found his remains in his room at his Connah's Quay residence on November 19th, 2021.
False Allegations Start
The inquest heard how his parent got a communication on 8 November 2021 via online platforms, from a individual asking if Kai was her child. The communication added: "Inform him thanks for breaking into my apartment."
In a statement read to the proceedings, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the media, asserting her baby's ashes had been taken in a burglary - a claim which was false.
Law Enforcement Investigation
An official inquiry from police later concluded the alleged burglary victim had "provided false information" and "it now appears that said items was not stolen in the beginning".
Media reports about the supposed taken remains attracted online responses, and although the teenager was not identified in the posts, his parent said people "understood it was him".
The "social media content were extremely distressing", she stated.
Emotional Health Effect
She added that her son had been identified with mild attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that disorder, other peoples' views really mattered to him.
"This must have hurt him deeply," she said, "especially when this was not true".
The teenager was arrested at home, but nothing was discovered. He was transported to a police station and later freed pending further inquiry.
Authorities said they would be in contact, the inquest learned, but had not contacted the family by the time of his passing.
Isolation and Anxiety
His mother said her son "withdrew into himself" after the arrest and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had heard anything from the authorities", because his condition meant sometimes "certain periods could feel like much longer".
When she talked to him about the supposed incident, she said her son told her he had gone into the residence because the woman who lived there had said he could utilize the toilet whenever he needed, but denied taking anything.
Online Bullying
In a joint statement between her and her husband, the mother said her son was being bullied online after the accusations.
The proceedings heard that one young adult urged the teenager to kill himself.
She had no concerns on the evening before he passed away, describing how she had heard him "laughing and teasing".
She described him as a "compassionate, affectionate" young man, and said her "family is completely devastated".
He had been "obviously hiding his worries", she said, adding that he could not bear to have anyone "have negative thoughts of him".
Educational Reaction
The inquest received testimony from educational staff at the local High School.
On November 8th, she "heard some boys talking that the student had been detained and that was the first I heard".
"He told me... he'd was innocent," she added.
After the conversation, the staff member said she called the family's family landline and left a voicemail saying she had communicated to the student about the accusations.
The court heard his parents said they did not receive that communication.
Formal Conclusion
Lead investigator informed the hearing he would await reports regarding what enhancements had been made to handling suspects with ADHD, before deciding whether he should make a avoidance of future deaths report.
Providing a narrative conclusion, he said: "Around November 8th, 2021, unsupported accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a young child.
"Likely falsehoods were subsequently exaggerated and amplified through the platform of online networks.
"During 11 November, he was questioned by the authorities and after his interview he was freed whilst investigations proceeded."
The official concluded: "Exists no proof that the acts or failures of any agency led to or added to his death and although it was the result of a self-inflicted action it is not possible to discern his intent."