Youth Found Dead After False Allegations of Stealing Cremated Remains

Relative's Picture
The teenager's mother and father discovered his remains in his bedroom in November 2021

One 14-year-old youth was discovered deceased only a few days following being wrongly accused of taking the cremated remains of a dead baby during a burglary, an inquest has heard.

Heartbreaking Discovery

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

False Allegations Start

The inquest learned how his mother received a message on November 8th, 2021 via social media, from a woman inquiring if her son was her offspring. The communication stated: "Inform him thanks for breaking into my flat."

In a testimony read to the proceedings, the mother said the individual had been in the news, asserting her baby's ashes had been taken in a burglary - a claim which was false.

Police Investigation

An investigation report from police later determined the alleged burglary complainant had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that said items was never taken in the beginning".

News coverage about the alleged taken ashes generated social media comments, and although the teenager was not identified in the posts, his mother said individuals "knew it was him".

The "social media content were extremely upsetting", she stated.

Emotional Wellbeing Impact

She explained that her son had been diagnosed with moderate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that condition, other individuals' opinions really were important to him.

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

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

Police said they would be in touch, the inquest heard, but had not contacted the relatives by the time of his death.

Isolation and Anxiety

His parent said her son "became isolated" after the detention and "would keep asking me whether I had heard anything from the authorities", because his ADHD meant sometimes "certain periods could seem like days".

When she spoke to him about the supposed incident, she said her child informed her he had entered the residence because the woman who lived there had said he could utilize the bathroom whenever he wanted, but refuted removing anything.

Online Bullying

In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, the mother said her son was being harassed digitally after the allegations.

The proceedings learned that one 19-year-old encouraged the teenager to kill himself.

She had no concerns on the evening before he passed away, explaining how she had listened to him "laughing and joking".

She described him as a "compassionate, affectionate" young man, and said her "relatives is totally shattered".

He had been "obviously hiding his worries", she said, noting that he could not stand to have anyone "think bad of him".

School Reaction

The inquest heard from educational staff at Connah's Quay secondary school.

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

"He told me... he'd was innocent," she continued.

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

The proceedings learned his family said they never receive that message.

Formal Finding

Lead coroner informed the hearing he would await reports regarding what enhancements had been made to handling suspects with ADHD, before deciding whether he should make a avoidance of subsequent deaths report.

Providing a narrative conclusion, he said: "Approximately November 8th, 2021, unsupported accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old child.

"Probably untruths were subsequently exaggerated and exaggerated through the medium of online networks.

"During November 11th, he was interviewed by the authorities and following his questioning he was released while inquiries proceeded."

The coroner concluded: "There is no evidence that the acts or failures of any agency 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."

James Bridges
James Bridges

A passionate tech writer and software developer with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and coding.

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