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Personal Snapshot

A 14-year-old boy was found dead only a few days following being wrongly accused of stealing the ashes of a deceased infant during a break-in, an inquest has learned.

Heartbreaking Finding

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

False Allegations Begin

The inquest learned how his mother received a communication on November 8th, 2021 via online platforms, from a individual asking if Kai was her offspring. The communication stated: "Tell him appreciation for burgling my apartment."

In a testimony presented to the proceedings, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the media, asserting her infant's ashes had been stolen in a break-in - a claim which was false.

Police Investigation

An official inquiry from authorities later determined the alleged break-in complainant had "lied to police" and "it now appears that the property was never taken in the beginning".

Media reports about the alleged stolen ashes attracted social media responses, and although Kai was not named in the messages, his mother said individuals "knew it was him".

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

Emotional Wellbeing Effect

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

"It would have hurt him deeply," she commented, "particularly when this was not true".

Kai was arrested at his residence, but nothing was discovered. He was taken to a law enforcement facility and later freed under investigation.

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

Isolation and Worry

His mother said her son "withdrew into himself" after the arrest and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had heard anything from the authorities", because his condition meant sometimes "certain periods could feel like much longer".

When she talked to him about the alleged burglary, she said her son told her he had entered the residence because the resident who resided there had said he could utilize the toilet whenever he wanted, but denied taking anything.

Digital Harassment

In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, the mother said her child was being harassed online after the allegations.

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

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

She described him as a "caring, affectionate" boy, and said her "relatives is totally devastated".

He had been "clearly concealing his concerns", she said, noting that he could not bear to have anyone "have negative thoughts of him".

School Reaction

The hearing heard from educational staff at Connah's Quay secondary school.

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

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

After the conversation, the staff member said she rang 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 got that communication.

Formal Conclusion

Senior coroner told the hearing he would await documents regarding what improvements had been made to dealing with individuals with the condition, before deciding whether he should make a prevention of future fatalities report.

Providing a narrative conclusion, he stated: "Approximately November 8th, 2021, unsupported accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a young child.

"Probably falsehoods were subsequently embellished and exaggerated through the medium of social media.

"During 11 November, he was interviewed by the authorities and following his questioning he was freed while investigations continued."

The official determined: "Exists no evidence that the actions or omissions 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 intent."