Teenager Discovered Dead Following False Accusations of Taking Ashes
A teenage boy was discovered deceased only a few days after being falsely blamed of taking the cremated remains of a deceased baby during a burglary, a coroner's inquiry has heard.
Heartbreaking Discovery
Kai Lloyd's parents found his body in his room at his Connah's Quay home on November 19th, 2021.
Untrue Accusations Begin
The inquest learned how his mother received a communication on November 8th, 2021 via social media, from a woman asking if Kai was her offspring. The message added: "Inform him appreciation for breaking into my apartment."
In a statement read to the court, the mother said the woman had been in the media, claiming her baby's ashes had been taken in a burglary - a claim which was false.
Law Enforcement Inquiry
An official inquiry from police later determined the supposed burglary victim had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that said items was never stolen in the first place".
News coverage about the alleged stolen remains generated social media comments, and although Kai was not identified in the posts, his parent said people "understood it was him".
The "online posts were really upsetting", she said.
Emotional Wellbeing Effect
She explained that Kai had been identified with mild attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that condition, other individuals' views genuinely were important to him.
"This must have affected him severely," she commented, "particularly when this was untrue".
Kai was detained at his residence, but nothing was discovered. He was taken to a police station and later released pending further inquiry.
Police said they would be in touch, the inquest heard, but had not reached out to the relatives by the moment of his passing.
Withdrawal and Anxiety
His parent said her son "withdrew into himself" after the detention and "would keep asking me whether I had heard anything from the authorities", because his ADHD meant sometimes "certain periods could feel like much longer".
When she spoke to him about the alleged burglary, she said her son informed her he had entered the residence because the resident who resided there had said he could utilize the bathroom whenever he wanted, but denied removing anything.
Digital Harassment
In a joint statement between her and her husband, Mrs Lloyd said her child was being harassed digitally after the allegations.
The inquest learned that one 19-year-old encouraged the teenager to end his life.
She had no concerns on the evening before he died, explaining how she had listened to him "laughing and teasing".
She described him as a "compassionate, affectionate" boy, and said her "relatives is completely devastated".
He had been "clearly hiding his worries", she said, adding that he could not stand to have anyone "have negative thoughts of him".
Educational Reaction
The hearing received testimony from school staff at the local High School.
On 8 November, she "overheard some students discussing that the student had been arrested and that was the first I learned".
"He told me... he'd was innocent," she continued.
After the conversation, the educator said she called the family's family telephone and left a voicemail saying she had communicated to the student about the allegations.
The court learned his parents said they never got that communication.
Formal Finding
Lead coroner informed the hearing he would await reports regarding what improvements had been made to handling individuals with the condition, before determining whether he should make a avoidance of future fatalities report.
Delivering a descriptive conclusion, he said: "Around 8 November 2021, unsubstantiated accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old child.
"Likely falsehoods were afterwards exaggerated and amplified through the platform of online networks.
"On 11 November, he was questioned by the authorities and following his questioning he was freed while investigations proceeded."
The official concluded: "Exists no evidence that the actions or failures of any agency caused or contributed to his death and although it was the outcome of a self-inflicted act it is not possible to discern his purpose."