Adolescent Discovered Deceased After Untrue Accusations of Stealing Ashes
One teenage youth was discovered deceased just days following being falsely blamed of taking the ashes of a dead baby during a break-in, an inquest has heard.
Tragic Discovery
Kai Lloyd's mother and father discovered his body in his bedroom at his Connah's Quay residence on November 19th, 2021.
Untrue Allegations Start
The investigation heard how his mother got a communication on November 8th, 2021 via online platforms, from a woman asking if Kai was her offspring. The communication added: "Inform him thanks for burgling my flat."
In a testimony read to the court, the mother said the woman had been in the media, asserting her baby's remains had been stolen in a burglary - a allegation which was untrue.
Law Enforcement Investigation
An investigation report from authorities later determined the supposed burglary complainant had "provided false information" and "evidence shows that said property was never taken in the first place".
Media reports about the alleged taken ashes attracted social media comments, and although the teenager was not identified in the messages, his mother said people "knew it was him".
The "online posts were extremely upsetting", she said.
Mental Health Effect
She added that Kai had been identified with moderate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that disorder, other peoples' opinions genuinely mattered to him.
"This must have hurt him deeply," she commented, "particularly when this was not true".
The teenager was detained at his residence, but nothing was found. He was taken to a police station and later released under investigation.
Authorities said they would be in touch, the inquest learned, but had not contacted the family by the moment of his passing.
Withdrawal and Anxiety
His mother said her son "withdrew into himself" after the arrest and "would keep asking me whether I had heard anything from the authorities", because his condition meant sometimes "a minute could feel like days".
When she talked to him about the supposed incident, she said her child informed her he had entered the house because the resident who resided there had said he could utilize the bathroom anytime he needed, but refuted taking anything.
Online Harassment
In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, the mother said her child was being bullied online after the allegations.
The inquest learned that one 19-year-old urged Kai to end his life.
She had no concerns on the night before he passed away, describing how she had heard him "laughing and joking".
She described him as a "caring, affectionate" young man, and said her "relatives is totally shattered".
He had been "clearly concealing his worries", she stated, noting that he could not bear to have anybody "have negative thoughts of him".
Educational Response
The hearing received testimony from school staff at the local High School.
On 8 November, she "heard some boys discussing that Kai had been arrested and that was the first I heard".
"He told me... he'd done nothing wrong," she added.
After the conversation, the educator said she rang Kai's family telephone and left a message saying she had communicated to Kai about the allegations.
The proceedings learned his parents said they did not got that communication.
Official Finding
Senior coroner informed the inquest he would wait for documents regarding what improvements had been made to handling suspects with the condition, before deciding whether he should make a prevention of subsequent deaths report.
Providing a descriptive conclusion, he said: "Approximately 8 November 2021, unsupported allegations were made against the teenager, a young child.
"Likely falsehoods were subsequently exaggerated and amplified through the medium of online networks.
"During November 11th, he was questioned by the police and following his questioning he was freed while inquiries proceeded."
The coroner determined: "There is no evidence that the acts or failures of any organization led to or contributed to his passing and although it was the result of a self-inflicted act it is not possible to discern his intent."