Adolescent Discovered Dead After Untrue Allegations of Stealing Cremated Remains
One teenage boy was found dead just days after being wrongly accused of stealing the ashes of a deceased infant during a burglary, a coroner's inquiry has heard.
Heartbreaking Finding
The young boy's parents found his remains in his bedroom at his Flintshire home on 19 November 2021.
Untrue Accusations Begin
The investigation heard how his parent got a communication on 8 November 2021 via social media, from a woman asking if Kai was her child. The communication added: "Inform him appreciation for breaking into my flat."
In a statement read to the proceedings, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the news, asserting her infant's ashes had been taken in a break-in - a claim which was untrue.
Police Inquiry
An official inquiry from police later concluded the alleged burglary complainant had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that the items was not taken in the beginning".
News coverage about the alleged stolen ashes attracted social media responses, and although the teenager was not identified in the messages, his mother said individuals "understood it was him".
The "online posts were really distressing", she said.
Mental Wellbeing Effect
She added that Kai had been identified with moderate ADHD, and as part of that disorder, other individuals' views genuinely mattered to him.
"It would have affected him severely," she said, "especially when this was untrue".
Kai was arrested at home, but no evidence was discovered. He was transported to a police station and later released under investigation.
Police said they would be in touch, the hearing heard, but had failed to contacted the family by the moment of his passing.
Isolation and Anxiety
His parent said her son "became isolated" after the arrest and "would keep asking me whether I had received anything from the authorities", because his ADHD meant sometimes "a minute could seem like much longer".
When she spoke to him about the alleged burglary, she said her son told her he had gone into the house because the woman who lived there had said he could use the bathroom whenever he needed, but refuted removing anything.
Online Harassment
In a combined testimony between her and her husband, Mrs Lloyd said her son was being harassed online after the allegations.
The inquest learned that one 19-year-old urged Kai to end his life.
She had no concerns on the evening before he passed away, explaining how she had heard him "laughing and joking".
She described him as a "compassionate, affectionate" boy, and said her "relatives is completely devastated".
He had been "obviously concealing his worries", she said, adding that he could not bear to have anyone "think bad of him".
Educational Reaction
The inquest received testimony from school personnel at the local secondary school.
On 8 November, she "heard some boys discussing that the student had been arrested and that was the initial I heard".
"He informed me... he'd done nothing wrong," she continued.
After the conversation, the educator said she called Kai's parents' landline and provided 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
Senior coroner informed the inquest he would wait for documents regarding what enhancements had been made to handling individuals with the condition, before deciding whether he should make a avoidance of future fatalities report.
Providing a descriptive conclusion, he said: "Approximately November 8th, 2021, unsupported accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a young individual.
"Likely untruths were subsequently embellished and amplified through the platform of social media.
"During November 11th, he was interviewed by the authorities and after his interview he was freed whilst inquiries proceeded."
The coroner concluded: "There is no proof that the acts or failures of any organization caused or contributed to his passing and although it was the result of a personal action it is impossible to determine his intent."
