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Personal Snapshot

One teenage youth was discovered deceased only a few days following being falsely blamed of stealing the ashes of a deceased infant during a burglary, a coroner's inquiry has heard.

Heartbreaking Finding

Kai Lloyd's parents found his body in his room at his Connah's Quay home on 19 November 2021.

False Allegations Start

The investigation learned how his mother received a message on 8 November 2021 via social media, from a individual inquiring if her son was her child. The message stated: "Inform him appreciation for breaking into my apartment."

In a statement presented to the proceedings, the mother said the woman had been in the media, claiming her baby's ashes had been stolen in a burglary - a allegation which was false.

Police Inquiry

An official inquiry from police later concluded the alleged burglary complainant had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that the property was never taken in the first place".

Media reports about the alleged taken remains generated social media responses, and although the teenager was not identified in the posts, his parent said people "knew it was him".

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

Emotional Health Effect

She added that her son had been diagnosed with mild attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and as part of that disorder, other individuals' views really were important to him.

"This must have affected him severely," she commented, "particularly when this was not true".

Kai was arrested at his residence, but nothing was found. 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 contacted the relatives by the moment of his passing.

Withdrawal and Anxiety

His parent said Kai "withdrew into himself" after the detention and "would keep asking me whether I had heard anything from the authorities", because his ADHD meant sometimes "certain periods could feel like days".

When she talked to him about the alleged incident, she said her son told her he had entered the residence because the resident who lived there had said he could use the bathroom whenever he wanted, but refuted removing anything.

Digital Harassment

In a joint statement between her and her spouse, the mother said her son was being harassed digitally after the allegations.

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

She had no worries on the night before he died, explaining how she had listened to him "laughing and joking".

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

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

School Response

The hearing received testimony from educational personnel at Connah's Quay secondary school.

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

"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 voicemail saying she had spoken to the student about the accusations.

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

Formal Conclusion

Senior coroner informed the inquest he would await reports regarding what improvements had been made to dealing with suspects with the condition, before determining whether he should make a prevention of future deaths report.

Providing a narrative conclusion, he said: "Approximately November 8th, 2021, unsupported accusations were made against the teenager, a young child.

"Likely falsehoods were subsequently exaggerated and exaggerated through the platform of social media.

"During 11 November, he was questioned by the authorities and following his interview he was released while inquiries continued."

The coroner concluded: "There is no proof that the acts or omissions of any agency caused or added to his death and although it was the result of a personal act it is impossible to determine his purpose."