Teenager Found Deceased Following Untrue Accusations of Stealing Cremated Remains
One teenage boy was discovered deceased only a few days following being wrongly blamed of stealing the cremated remains of a dead infant during a burglary, a coroner's inquiry has learned.
Heartbreaking Discovery
Kai Lloyd's mother and father found his remains in his bedroom at his Connah's Quay home on 19 November 2021.
Untrue Accusations Start
The investigation learned how his parent received a communication on November 8th, 2021 via online platforms, from a individual inquiring if her son was her child. The message added: "Inform him appreciation for breaking into my apartment."
In a statement read to the court, the mother said the individual had been in the media, asserting her infant's ashes had been taken in a break-in - a allegation which was untrue.
Law Enforcement Investigation
An investigation report from police later determined the alleged break-in complainant had "lied to police" and "it now appears that the property was never taken in the first place".
News coverage about the supposed taken remains generated social media responses, and although the teenager was not named in the posts, his mother said people "knew it was him".
The "online posts were really upsetting", she stated.
Mental Health Impact
She explained that Kai had been diagnosed with mild attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that disorder, other individuals' views really mattered to him.
"This must have hurt him deeply," she commented, "especially when this was untrue".
Kai was arrested at his residence, but nothing was found. He was transported to a law enforcement facility and later released pending further inquiry.
Police said they would be in contact, the inquest heard, but had failed to contacted the family by the time of his death.
Withdrawal and Worry
His mother said Kai "withdrew into himself" after the arrest and "would keep asking me whether I had received anything from the authorities", because his ADHD meant sometimes "a minute could seem like much longer".
When she spoke to him about the supposed burglary, she said her child told her he had entered the house because the woman who resided there had said he could use the bathroom whenever he needed, but denied removing anything.
Digital Bullying
In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, Mrs Lloyd said her child was being harassed digitally after the accusations.
The proceedings heard that a 19-year-old encouraged the teenager to kill himself.
She had no concerns on the night before he died, describing how she had heard him "laughing and teasing".
She portrayed him as a "caring, loving" young man, and said her "family is completely shattered".
He had been "clearly hiding his worries", she stated, adding that he could not stand to have anyone "think bad of him".
School Reaction
The hearing received testimony from educational staff at Connah's Quay secondary school.
On 8 November, she "overheard some boys talking that Kai had been detained and that was the initial I learned".
"He told me... he'd done nothing wrong," she added.
After the conversation, the educator said she called Kai's family landline and provided a message saying she had spoken to Kai about the allegations.
The proceedings learned his parents said they did not got that communication.
Formal Conclusion
Senior coroner told the hearing he would wait for reports regarding what enhancements had been made to handling individuals with the condition, before deciding whether he should make a prevention of future fatalities report.
Providing a narrative conclusion, he said: "Around 8 November 2021, unsubstantiated allegations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old child.
"Probably untruths were subsequently exaggerated and amplified through the platform of online networks.
"On November 11th, he was questioned by the police and following his questioning he was freed while inquiries proceeded."
The official determined: "Exists no evidence that the acts or failures of any organization caused or contributed to his death and although it was the result of a self-inflicted action it is not possible to determine his purpose."