Adolescent Found Deceased After Untrue Accusations of Stealing Ashes
Relative's Picture
A teenage boy was found dead only a few days after being wrongly blamed of stealing the cremated remains of a deceased infant during a burglary, a coroner's inquiry has learned.
Heartbreaking Discovery
The young boy's parents discovered his remains in his room at his Flintshire residence on 19 November 2021.
False Allegations Begin
The investigation heard how his mother got a message on November 8th, 2021 via online platforms, from a woman inquiring if Kai was her offspring. The message added: "Inform him thanks for burgling my apartment."
In a testimony read to the court, the mother said the individual had been in the media, asserting her baby's remains had been taken in a break-in - a allegation which was false.
Law Enforcement Investigation
An investigation report from police later concluded the supposed break-in victim had "lied to police" and "it now appears that said property was not taken in the first place".
News coverage about the supposed stolen ashes attracted social media comments, and although the teenager was not identified in the messages, his parent said individuals "understood it was him".
The "online posts were really upsetting", she said.
Emotional Wellbeing Effect
She added that Kai had been identified with mild ADHD, and as part of that disorder, other individuals' views really mattered to him.
"It would have hurt him deeply," she said, "particularly when this was untrue".
The teenager was arrested at home, but nothing 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 relatives by the time of his death.
Withdrawal and Anxiety
His mother said her son "became isolated" after the detention and "would keep asking 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 child informed her he had gone into the house because the woman who lived there had said he could use the toilet anytime he wanted, but refuted taking anything.
Online Bullying
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 urged the teenager to end his life.
She had no concerns on the evening before he passed away, explaining how she had heard him "laughing and teasing".
She portrayed him as a "compassionate, loving" boy, and said her "family is totally devastated".
He had been "obviously concealing his concerns", she stated, adding that he could not bear to have anybody "think bad of him".
Educational Response
The hearing heard from educational staff at the local secondary school.
On 8 November, she "heard some students discussing that the student had been arrested and that was the first I learned".
"He told me... he'd done nothing wrong," she continued.
After the discussion, the educator said she rang the family's family landline and left a message saying she had spoken to the student about the accusations.
The proceedings learned his family said they never receive that message.
Formal Finding
Senior investigator told the hearing he would wait for documents regarding what enhancements had been made to dealing with suspects with ADHD, before determining whether he should make a prevention of subsequent fatalities report.
Providing a narrative conclusion, he stated: "Approximately November 8th, 2021, unsubstantiated accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old child.
"Likely untruths were subsequently exaggerated and amplified through the medium of online networks.
"On 11 November, he was questioned by the police and after his questioning he was freed while inquiries continued."
The official concluded: "Exists no proof that the actions or failures of any organization caused or contributed to his death and although it was the result of a self-inflicted act it is impossible to determine his purpose."
