🔗 Share this article

Relative's Picture

A 14-year-old youth was found dead only a few days following being falsely blamed of taking the ashes of a deceased infant during a break-in, a coroner's inquiry has heard.

Tragic Discovery

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

Untrue Allegations Begin

The investigation heard how his parent got a message on 8 November 2021 via online platforms, from a woman asking if Kai was her child. The message added: "Tell him appreciation for breaking into my flat."

In a statement presented to the proceedings, Lisa Lloyd said the woman had been in the media, asserting her infant's ashes had been taken in a break-in - a allegation which was untrue.

Law Enforcement Investigation

An investigation report from authorities later determined the alleged break-in complainant had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that said property was not taken in the beginning".

Media reports about the alleged taken remains generated online responses, and although the teenager was not identified in the messages, his mother said people "understood it was him".

The "social media content were really upsetting", she said.

Emotional Health Impact

She added that her son had been identified with moderate ADHD, and as part of that condition, other individuals' views really 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 pending further inquiry.

Police said they would be in touch, the hearing heard, but had not reached out to the family by the time of his death.

Withdrawal and Anxiety

His mother said Kai "became isolated" after the detention and "would keep asking me whether I had heard anything from the police", because his ADHD meant sometimes "a minute could seem like days".

When she talked to him about the alleged burglary, she said her child told her he had gone into the residence because the woman who lived there had said he could use the bathroom anytime he needed, but refuted removing anything.

Online Bullying

In a combined testimony between her and her husband, Mrs Lloyd said her son was being harassed online after the accusations.

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

She had no concerns on the night before he died, explaining how she had heard him "laughing and teasing".

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

He had been "obviously hiding his concerns", she said, adding that he could not stand to have anybody "think bad of him".

Educational Reaction

The inquest received testimony from school personnel at the local secondary school.

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

"He told me... he'd done nothing wrong," she continued.

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

The proceedings learned his parents said they did not receive that message.

Formal Finding

Senior coroner told the hearing he would wait for reports regarding what enhancements had been made to handling individuals with ADHD, before determining whether he should make a avoidance of subsequent deaths report.

Providing a descriptive finding, he said: "Around 8 November 2021, unsupported allegations were made against the teenager, a 14-year-old child.

"Probably untruths were subsequently embellished and amplified through the platform of online networks.

"During November 11th, he was questioned by the police and after his questioning he was freed while inquiries proceeded."

The official concluded: "Exists no evidence that the actions or omissions of any agency caused or contributed to his passing and although it was the result of a self-inflicted action it is impossible to determine his purpose."