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Personal Snapshot

One 14-year-old youth was found dead just days following being falsely accused of taking the ashes of a dead infant during a burglary, a coroner's inquiry has learned.

Heartbreaking Finding

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

Untrue Allegations Start

The investigation learned how his mother received a message on 8 November 2021 via social media, from a woman asking if her son was her child. The message added: "Inform him thanks for breaking into my flat."

In a statement presented to the court, the mother said the woman had been in the news, asserting her baby's remains had been stolen in a burglary - a claim which was false.

Police Inquiry

An investigation report from authorities later concluded the supposed burglary complainant had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that the items was never stolen in the first place".

News coverage about the alleged stolen ashes generated social media responses, and although Kai was not named in the posts, his mother said people "knew it was him".

The "online posts were really distressing", she said.

Mental Health Effect

She explained that Kai had been diagnosed with mild attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that condition, other peoples' views really mattered to him.

"This must have hurt him deeply," she said, "particularly when this was not true".

The teenager was detained at his residence, but nothing was discovered. He was taken to a law enforcement facility and later freed pending further inquiry.

Authorities said they would be in contact, the hearing heard, but had failed to contacted the family by the time of his passing.

Withdrawal and Worry

His parent said Kai "became isolated" after the detention and "would keep asking me whether I had received anything from the authorities", because his condition meant sometimes "certain periods could feel like much longer".

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

Digital Bullying

In a combined testimony between her and her husband, Mrs Lloyd said her child was being bullied digitally after the allegations.

The proceedings learned that a young adult urged the teenager to end his life.

She had no concerns on the night before he died, describing how she had listened to him "chuckling and joking".

She portrayed him as a "caring, loving" young man, and said her "family is totally devastated".

He had been "clearly hiding his concerns", she stated, adding that he could not stand to have anybody "have negative thoughts of him".

School Response

The inquest heard from school staff at Connah's Quay High School.

On 8 November, she "heard some students talking that Kai had been arrested and that was the initial I heard".

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

After the discussion, the staff member said she called Kai's parents' telephone and left a message saying she had communicated to Kai about the accusations.

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

Official Finding

Lead investigator informed the inquest he would await documents regarding what improvements had been made to handling suspects with ADHD, before determining whether he should make a prevention of subsequent fatalities report.

Delivering a descriptive conclusion, he said: "Around November 8th, 2021, unsupported accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old individual.

"Probably falsehoods were afterwards exaggerated and amplified through the medium of online networks.

"During November 11th, he was questioned by the police and after his questioning he was freed whilst investigations continued."

The coroner concluded: "There is no evidence that the acts or omissions of any organization caused or added to his passing and although it was the result of a self-inflicted action it is impossible to determine his purpose."