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Personal Snapshot

A 14-year-old youth was found dead only a few days after being wrongly blamed of stealing the cremated remains of a deceased infant during a burglary, an inquest has heard.

Tragic Finding

The young boy's parents found his body in his room at his Connah's Quay residence on November 19th, 2021.

False Accusations Begin

The inquest learned how his parent got a communication on November 8th, 2021 via online platforms, from a individual inquiring if her son was her offspring. The message stated: "Tell him thanks for burgling my flat."

In a statement read to the proceedings, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the media, asserting her baby's ashes had been taken in a break-in - a claim which was untrue.

Law Enforcement Inquiry

An official inquiry from police later determined the alleged break-in victim had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that the items was not taken in the first place".

News coverage about the supposed taken ashes generated social media responses, and although Kai was not named in the messages, his mother said individuals "knew it was him".

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

Mental Wellbeing Effect

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

"This must have affected him severely," she said, "particularly when this was untrue".

The teenager was detained at home, but nothing was discovered. He was taken to a police station and later freed pending further inquiry.

Authorities said they would be in contact, the inquest learned, but had not reached out to the family by the moment of his death.

Withdrawal and Anxiety

His mother said her son "became isolated" after the detention and "would keep asking me whether I had received anything from the authorities", because his ADHD meant sometimes "a minute could feel like much longer".

When she spoke to him about the alleged incident, she said her son told her he had entered the residence because the woman who lived there had said he could use the toilet anytime he wanted, but denied removing anything.

Online Harassment

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

The proceedings learned that one young adult urged the teenager to end his life.

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

She described him as a "caring, loving" young man, and said her "relatives is completely shattered".

He had been "obviously hiding his worries", she stated, noting that he could not stand to have anyone "have negative thoughts of him".

Educational Response

The hearing received testimony from school staff at the local secondary school.

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

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

After the conversation, the staff member said she called the family's parents' telephone and provided a voicemail saying she had communicated to the student about the allegations.

The court learned his family said they never got that communication.

Formal Conclusion

Senior coroner 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 prevention of subsequent deaths report.

Delivering a descriptive finding, he stated: "Around 8 November 2021, unsubstantiated accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old child.

"Likely untruths were afterwards exaggerated and exaggerated through the platform of online networks.

"During November 11th, he was questioned by the police and following his interview he was released whilst investigations proceeded."

The official concluded: "There is no evidence that the acts or failures of any agency led to or contributed to his passing and although it was the result of a personal action it is impossible to discern his intent."