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Personal Snapshot

A teenage boy was discovered deceased just days following being falsely accused of stealing the cremated remains of a dead infant during a burglary, a coroner's inquiry has heard.

Tragic Finding

Kai Lloyd's mother and father discovered his body in his bedroom at his Connah's Quay home on 19 November 2021.

Untrue Accusations Begin

The inquest heard how his mother received a message on 8 November 2021 via online platforms, from a woman asking if her son was her offspring. The communication added: "Inform him thanks for breaking into my apartment."

In a testimony read to the court, the mother said the woman had been in the news, claiming her baby's remains had been taken in a break-in - a claim which was untrue.

Police Investigation

An official inquiry from authorities later determined the supposed break-in complainant had "provided false information" and "evidence shows that the property was never stolen in the first place".

Media reports about the alleged stolen ashes generated social media comments, and although the teenager was not named in the posts, his parent said individuals "knew it was him".

The "social media content were really upsetting", she said.

Emotional Wellbeing Impact

She added that her son had been identified with moderate ADHD, and as part of that disorder, other peoples' opinions genuinely were important to him.

"This must have hurt him deeply," she commented, "particularly when this was not true".

The teenager was detained at his residence, but no evidence was found. He was transported to a police station and later freed pending further inquiry.

Police said they would be in touch, the inquest learned, but had not contacted the family by the moment of his passing.

Isolation and Anxiety

His parent said her son "became isolated" after the arrest and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had heard anything from the police", because his condition meant sometimes "certain periods could seem like much longer".

When she talked to him about the alleged burglary, she said her son told her he had gone into the residence because the resident who resided there had said he could utilize the bathroom anytime he wanted, but refuted taking anything.

Online Harassment

In a combined testimony between her and her husband, the mother said her son was being bullied online after the accusations.

The inquest heard that one 19-year-old encouraged the teenager to end his life.

She had no worries on the evening before he died, explaining how she had heard him "laughing and joking".

She described him as a "caring, loving" boy, and said her "relatives is completely shattered".

He had been "clearly concealing his worries", she stated, noting that he could not bear to have anyone "have negative thoughts of him".

Educational Reaction

The inquest heard from educational staff at Connah's Quay High School.

On 8 November, she "overheard some boys discussing that Kai had been arrested and that was the first I heard".

"He told me... he'd done nothing wrong," she continued.

After the conversation, the staff member said she called the family's family telephone and left a voicemail saying she had communicated to the student about the allegations.

The proceedings learned his family said they never got that communication.

Formal Finding

Lead coroner told the hearing he would wait for documents regarding what enhancements had been made to dealing with suspects with the condition, before deciding whether he should make a prevention of future fatalities report.

Delivering a descriptive conclusion, he said: "Around 8 November 2021, unsupported accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a young child.

"Probably untruths were afterwards embellished and amplified through the platform of online networks.

"On November 11th, he was questioned by the police and following his interview he was freed while investigations proceeded."

The coroner determined: "There is no proof that the actions or failures of any organization led to or added to his death and although it was the result of a personal action it is not possible to discern his purpose."