🔗 Share this article

Personal Snapshot

One 14-year-old boy was discovered deceased just days following being wrongly accused of taking the cremated remains of a dead baby during a burglary, an inquest has learned.

Heartbreaking Finding

Kai Lloyd's parents found his body in his room at his Flintshire residence on November 19th, 2021.

False Allegations Begin

The inquest heard how his mother got a communication on 8 November 2021 via social media, from a individual inquiring if Kai was her offspring. The communication stated: "Tell him appreciation for breaking into my flat."

In a statement read to the proceedings, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the news, claiming her infant's ashes had been stolen in a break-in - a allegation which was untrue.

Police Inquiry

An official inquiry from authorities later concluded the supposed burglary complainant had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that said items was not stolen in the beginning".

News coverage about the alleged stolen ashes generated online comments, and although Kai was not identified in the posts, his parent said people "knew it was him".

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

Mental Wellbeing Impact

She explained that Kai had been identified with moderate ADHD, and as part of that condition, other peoples' views really were important to him.

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

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

Authorities said they would be in contact, the inquest heard, but had failed to reached out to the relatives by the moment of his death.

Withdrawal and Anxiety

His parent said her son "withdrew into himself" 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 talked to him about the supposed incident, she said her child told her he had entered the residence because the woman who lived there had said he could use the bathroom whenever he wanted, but denied taking anything.

Online Bullying

In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, the mother said her son was being bullied digitally after the allegations.

The proceedings learned that a 19-year-old urged the teenager to end his life.

She had no concerns on the evening before he passed away, describing how she had heard him "laughing and joking".

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

He had been "clearly hiding his concerns", she stated, noting that he could not stand to have anyone "think bad of him".

School Response

The inquest heard from school staff at the local secondary school.

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

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

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

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

Official Conclusion

Senior coroner told the inquest he would wait for documents regarding what improvements had been made to handling suspects with ADHD, before deciding whether he should make a avoidance of future deaths report.

Delivering a narrative finding, he stated: "Around November 8th, 2021, unsupported allegations were made against the teenager, a 14-year-old child.

"Likely untruths were subsequently embellished and exaggerated through the medium of social media.

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

The official concluded: "Exists no evidence that the actions or failures of any agency caused or added to his death and although it was the result of a self-inflicted act it is impossible to discern his purpose."