Youth Discovered Dead Following False Allegations of Taking Cremated Remains
A teenage youth was discovered deceased just days after being falsely blamed of taking the cremated remains of a deceased infant during a burglary, an inquest has learned.
Tragic Finding
Kai Lloyd's mother and father found his remains in his room at his Flintshire home on November 19th, 2021.
False Accusations Start
The inquest heard how his mother received a message on November 8th, 2021 via online platforms, from a woman inquiring if Kai was her child. The message added: "Tell him appreciation for breaking into my flat."
In a statement read to the proceedings, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the news, asserting her baby's remains had been taken in a burglary - a claim which was untrue.
Law Enforcement Inquiry
An official inquiry from police later determined the supposed burglary complainant had "provided false information" and "evidence shows that the property was not taken in the first place".
Media reports about the supposed taken remains attracted social media responses, and although the teenager was not named in the messages, his mother said individuals "knew it was him".
The "social media content were really distressing", she stated.
Emotional Health Effect
She added that Kai had been identified with moderate ADHD, and as part of that disorder, other individuals' views really mattered to him.
"It would have hurt him deeply," she said, "especially when this was not true".
Kai was detained at home, but nothing was discovered. He was transported to a police station and later freed pending further inquiry.
Police said they would be in contact, the inquest learned, but had failed to contacted the family by the time of his death.
Isolation and Worry
His mother said her son "became isolated" after the arrest and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had received anything from the police", because his condition meant sometimes "a minute could feel like much longer".
When she spoke to him about the supposed incident, she said her child informed her he had gone into the residence because the woman who resided there had said he could use the bathroom anytime he needed, but denied removing anything.
Digital Bullying
In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, the mother said her child was being harassed online after the accusations.
The inquest learned that one young adult urged the teenager to end his life.
She had no worries on the evening before he passed away, describing how she had heard him "chuckling and teasing".
She portrayed him as a "compassionate, loving" boy, and said her "relatives is totally devastated".
He had been "obviously hiding his worries", she said, adding that he could not bear to have anyone "think bad of him".
School Response
The inquest heard from educational staff at Connah's Quay secondary school.
On November 8th, she "heard some students talking that the student had been detained and that was the first I learned".
"He informed me... he'd was innocent," she continued.
After the conversation, the staff member said she rang the family's parents' telephone and provided a voicemail saying she had communicated to the student about the accusations.
The court heard his family said they never got that message.
Formal Finding
Senior coroner told the hearing he would wait for reports regarding what improvements had been made to handling suspects with ADHD, before deciding whether he should make a prevention of future deaths report.
Delivering a descriptive finding, he said: "Around November 8th, 2021, unsubstantiated allegations were made against the teenager, a 14-year-old child.
"Likely untruths were afterwards exaggerated and amplified through the platform of social media.
"During November 11th, he was questioned by the police and following his questioning he was freed whilst investigations continued."
The official determined: "Exists no evidence that the acts or omissions of any organization caused or contributed to his death and although it was the outcome of a personal act it is not possible to determine his intent."
