🔗 Share this article

Personal Snapshot

A 14-year-old youth was found dead only a few days following being wrongly accused of stealing the cremated remains of a deceased infant during a burglary, a coroner's inquiry has heard.

Heartbreaking Finding

Kai Lloyd's parents discovered his remains in his room at his Flintshire residence on 19 November 2021.

False Accusations Start

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

In a testimony read to the proceedings, the mother said the individual had been in the media, claiming her baby's ashes had been taken in a break-in - a allegation which was false.

Police Investigation

An official inquiry from authorities later determined the supposed break-in complainant had "lied to police" and "it now appears that said items was not stolen in the first place".

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

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

Mental Health Impact

She added that her son had been identified with moderate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that condition, other peoples' views genuinely were important to him.

"It would have affected him severely," she commented, "especially when this was not true".

Kai was detained at his residence, but nothing was found. 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 not reached out to the family by the time of his passing.

Withdrawal and Worry

His mother said her son "became isolated" after the arrest and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had received anything from the police", because his condition meant sometimes "certain periods could feel like days".

When she talked to him about the supposed incident, she said her son told her he had gone into the house because the woman who lived there had said he could use the toilet anytime he wanted, but denied taking anything.

Online Bullying

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

The proceedings heard that one young adult urged Kai to kill himself.

She had no worries on the night before he passed away, explaining how she had listened to him "chuckling and teasing".

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

He had been "obviously concealing his worries", she said, adding that he could not stand to have anyone "think bad of him".

Educational Response

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

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

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

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

The court heard his parents said they did not receive that communication.

Formal Finding

Lead investigator informed the hearing he would wait for reports regarding what improvements had been made to dealing with suspects with the condition, before determining whether he should make a prevention of subsequent fatalities report.

Providing a narrative finding, he stated: "Around November 8th, 2021, unsupported accusations were made against the teenager, a young child.

"Probably falsehoods were afterwards exaggerated and amplified through the medium of social media.

"During 11 November, he was interviewed by the authorities and following his interview he was released whilst investigations proceeded."

The official determined: "Exists no proof that the acts or failures of any agency caused or contributed to his death and although it was the outcome of a self-inflicted action it is not possible to determine his intent."