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Personal Snapshot

One teenage boy was discovered deceased just days following being falsely blamed of stealing the ashes of a dead infant during a break-in, a coroner's inquiry has heard.

Tragic Discovery

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

False Accusations Start

The inquest learned how his parent got a communication on 8 November 2021 via online platforms, from a woman inquiring if her son was her offspring. The communication stated: "Inform him thanks for breaking into my flat."

In a testimony read to the court, Lisa Lloyd said the woman had been in the media, claiming her infant's remains had been stolen in a break-in - a allegation which was untrue.

Law Enforcement Inquiry

An investigation report from police later determined the alleged break-in victim had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that said items was not stolen in the first place".

Media reports about the alleged taken ashes attracted online responses, and although Kai was not identified in the messages, his parent said people "knew it was him".

The "social media content were really upsetting", she stated.

Emotional Wellbeing Impact

She explained that her son had been diagnosed with moderate ADHD, and as part of that condition, other peoples' opinions really mattered to him.

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

Kai was detained at his residence, but nothing was found. He was transported to a police station and later freed under investigation.

Police said they would be in touch, the hearing learned, but had failed to reached out to the family by the time of his death.

Withdrawal and Anxiety

His parent said her son "withdrew into himself" after the arrest and "would keep asking me whether I had heard anything from the police", because his condition meant sometimes "certain periods could feel like much longer".

When she talked to him about the supposed burglary, she said her son informed her he had entered the house because the resident who resided there had said he could use the toilet whenever he needed, but denied removing anything.

Online Bullying

In a joint statement between her and her spouse, Mrs Lloyd said her son was being bullied online after the allegations.

The inquest heard that one 19-year-old urged the teenager to kill himself.

She had no worries on the night before he died, describing how she had heard him "chuckling and teasing".

She portrayed him as a "compassionate, loving" young man, and said her "family is completely devastated".

He had been "clearly hiding his concerns", she stated, adding that he could not bear to have anyone "think bad of him".

School Reaction

The hearing heard from educational personnel at the local secondary school.

On 8 November, she "heard some students talking that Kai had been detained and that was the first I heard".

"He told me... he'd done nothing wrong," she added.

After the conversation, the staff member said she called the family's parents' telephone and left a message saying she had spoken to Kai about the accusations.

The proceedings learned his family said they never receive that message.

Formal Conclusion

Lead coroner informed the inquest he would wait for documents regarding what improvements had been made to handling suspects with the condition, before deciding whether he should make a prevention of future fatalities report.

Providing a narrative conclusion, he said: "Approximately November 8th, 2021, unsubstantiated allegations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a young individual.

"Probably untruths were subsequently exaggerated and amplified through the medium of social media.

"On November 11th, he was questioned by the police and following his questioning he was released whilst inquiries continued."

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