Teenager Found Deceased After Untrue Accusations of Stealing Ashes
One teenage youth was found dead just days following being wrongly blamed of stealing the ashes of a dead infant during a break-in, an inquest has learned.
Heartbreaking Finding
The young boy's parents discovered his body in his bedroom at his Connah's Quay residence on November 19th, 2021.
Untrue Accusations Begin
The investigation heard how his mother received a message on November 8th, 2021 via social media, from a individual asking if Kai was her offspring. The message stated: "Inform him thanks for burgling my apartment."
In a testimony presented to the court, the mother said the woman had been in the news, asserting her infant's remains had been stolen in a break-in - a claim which was untrue.
Law Enforcement Investigation
An investigation report from police later determined the alleged burglary complainant had "provided false information" and "evidence shows that said items was not stolen in the first place".
Media reports about the supposed stolen remains attracted online comments, and although Kai was not named in the messages, his parent said individuals "knew it was him".
The "social media content were really upsetting", she stated.
Emotional Wellbeing Impact
She explained that Kai had been identified with moderate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that condition, other individuals' views genuinely mattered to him.
"It would have hurt him deeply," she commented, "especially when this was untrue".
The teenager was detained at his residence, but nothing was discovered. He was transported to a police station and later released pending further inquiry.
Authorities said they would be in contact, the inquest learned, but had failed to contacted the family by the moment of his death.
Isolation and Anxiety
His parent said Kai "became isolated" after the arrest and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had heard anything from the police", because his ADHD meant sometimes "a minute could seem like days".
When she talked to him about the alleged incident, she said her son told her he had gone into the house because the woman who resided there had said he could utilize the toilet whenever he wanted, but refuted taking anything.
Online Bullying
In a combined testimony between her and her husband, Mrs Lloyd said her son was being harassed online after the accusations.
The proceedings learned that a 19-year-old urged the teenager to kill himself.
She had no concerns on the night before he passed away, explaining how she had heard him "chuckling and teasing".
She portrayed him as a "compassionate, affectionate" boy, and said her "family is totally shattered".
He had been "clearly concealing his worries", she said, noting that he could not stand to have anyone "have negative thoughts of him".
Educational Reaction
The inquest heard from school personnel at Connah's Quay secondary school.
On November 8th, she "heard some students talking that Kai had been arrested and that was the first I heard".
"He informed me... he'd was innocent," she continued.
After the discussion, the educator said she rang the family's family landline and left a voicemail saying she had spoken to the student about the allegations.
The court heard his parents said they did not receive that communication.
Formal Finding
Senior investigator informed the inquest he would wait for documents regarding what improvements had been made to handling suspects with ADHD, before determining whether he should make a avoidance of future deaths report.
Providing a descriptive finding, he stated: "Around 8 November 2021, unsubstantiated accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a young child.
"Likely untruths were subsequently exaggerated and amplified through the platform of online networks.
"On 11 November, he was questioned by the authorities and after his interview he was freed whilst inquiries continued."
The coroner 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 personal action it is not possible to determine his purpose."