Teenager Found Dead After False Accusations of Stealing Ashes
One 14-year-old boy was found dead just days following being falsely blamed of taking the cremated remains of a deceased baby during a break-in, a coroner's inquiry has learned.
Heartbreaking Discovery
The young boy's parents found his body in his room at his Connah's Quay home on 19 November 2021.
False Accusations Start
The investigation heard how his parent received a message on November 8th, 2021 via online platforms, from a individual asking if her son was her child. The message stated: "Inform him appreciation for burgling my apartment."
In a statement presented to the proceedings, Lisa Lloyd said the woman had been in the news, claiming her baby's ashes had been stolen in a burglary - a claim which was false.
Law Enforcement Inquiry
An official inquiry from authorities later determined the alleged burglary victim had "lied to police" and "it now appears that the property was never taken in the beginning".
News coverage about the alleged taken ashes attracted social media responses, and although the teenager was not identified in the posts, his mother said people "understood it was him".
The "social media content were extremely distressing", she stated.
Mental Wellbeing Effect
She added that her son had been diagnosed with mild ADHD, and as part of that condition, other peoples' opinions really mattered to him.
"This must have hurt him deeply," she said, "especially when this was untrue".
The teenager was detained at home, but nothing was discovered. He was transported to a law enforcement facility and later released pending further inquiry.
Authorities said they would be in contact, the hearing learned, but had failed to reached out to the family by the time of his passing.
Withdrawal and Anxiety
His mother said her son "became isolated" after the arrest and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had heard anything from the authorities", because his condition meant sometimes "a minute could feel like much longer".
When she talked to him about the alleged incident, she said her child informed her he had entered the residence because the resident who resided there had said he could use the bathroom anytime he wanted, but refuted removing anything.
Online Harassment
In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, Mrs Lloyd said her child was being bullied online after the allegations.
The inquest heard that one 19-year-old urged Kai to end his life.
She had no worries on the night before he died, explaining how she had heard him "laughing and joking".
She portrayed him as a "compassionate, affectionate" boy, and said her "family is totally shattered".
He had been "clearly hiding his worries", she said, noting that he could not bear to have anybody "have negative thoughts of him".
School Response
The hearing heard from school staff at the local secondary school.
On November 8th, she "heard some boys talking that the student had been detained and that was the initial I learned".
"He informed me... he'd was innocent," she added.
After the conversation, the staff member said she rang the family's family telephone and left a message saying she had spoken to the student about the allegations.
The proceedings learned his parents said they never receive that message.
Formal Finding
Lead investigator told the hearing he would await documents regarding what enhancements had been made to handling suspects with ADHD, before determining whether he should make a avoidance of future fatalities report.
Providing a narrative conclusion, he said: "Around 8 November 2021, unsubstantiated allegations were made against the teenager, a 14-year-old child.
"Likely untruths were subsequently embellished and exaggerated through the platform of social media.
"On November 11th, he was interviewed by the authorities and following his questioning he was freed while inquiries proceeded."
The official concluded: "Exists no proof that the acts or omissions of any organization led to or added to his passing and although it was the result of a self-inflicted action it is impossible to discern his purpose."