Adolescent Found Dead Following False Accusations of Stealing Cremated Remains

Family Photo
The teenager's parents found his remains in his bedroom in November 2021

A 14-year-old boy was found dead only a few days after being wrongly accused of taking the cremated remains of a dead baby during a break-in, a coroner's inquiry has heard.

Tragic Discovery

The young boy's mother and father found his body in his room at his Connah's Quay residence on November 19th, 2021.

False Accusations Begin

The inquest learned how his mother received a communication on November 8th, 2021 via social media, from a individual inquiring if her son was her child. The message added: "Inform him appreciation for burgling my apartment."

In a testimony read to the court, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the media, claiming her infant's remains had been taken in a burglary - a allegation which was false.

Police Inquiry

An investigation report from police later determined the alleged burglary victim had "lied to police" and "it now appears that said items was not stolen in the beginning".

News coverage about the supposed stolen remains attracted online responses, and although the teenager was not identified in the posts, his mother said people "understood it was him".

The "online posts were extremely upsetting", she stated.

Mental Health Effect

She explained that Kai had been identified with mild attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that disorder, other individuals' opinions really mattered to him.

"It would have affected him severely," she said, "especially when this was untrue".

The teenager was arrested at home, but nothing was found. He was taken to a police station and later released pending further inquiry.

Police said they would be in contact, the inquest heard, but had not reached out to the family by the time of his passing.

Isolation and Worry

His mother said Kai "withdrew into himself" after the detention and "would keep asking me whether I had received anything from the authorities", because his ADHD meant sometimes "certain periods could seem like days".

When she talked to him about the supposed burglary, she said her son told her he had entered the house because the woman who lived there had said he could use the toilet whenever he needed, but denied taking anything.

Online Harassment

In a joint statement between her and her spouse, the mother said her child was being bullied digitally after the allegations.

The inquest heard that a young adult urged the teenager to kill himself.

She had no worries on the evening before he died, describing how she had heard him "chuckling and teasing".

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

He had been "clearly hiding his concerns", she said, adding that he could not bear to have anyone "have negative thoughts of him".

School Reaction

The inquest received testimony from school personnel at Connah's Quay High School.

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

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

After the conversation, the staff member said she rang Kai's family telephone and provided a voicemail saying she had communicated to Kai about the allegations.

The court heard his parents said they never receive that communication.

Formal Conclusion

Senior coroner told the inquest he would await documents regarding what enhancements had been made to dealing with suspects with ADHD, before deciding whether he should make a prevention of future deaths report.

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

"Probably falsehoods were afterwards embellished and amplified through the platform of social media.

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

The official concluded: "Exists no proof that the acts or failures of any organization caused or added to his passing and although it was the result of a personal act it is not possible to discern his purpose."

Ms. Patricia Lewis
Ms. Patricia Lewis

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