Teenager Found Deceased Following False Allegations of Taking Ashes
One teenage boy was discovered deceased just days after being falsely blamed of stealing the cremated remains of a dead infant during a burglary, a coroner's inquiry has heard.
Heartbreaking Finding
Kai Lloyd's mother and father found his body in his room at his Flintshire residence on November 19th, 2021.
Untrue Accusations Begin
The investigation heard how his mother received a message on 8 November 2021 via online platforms, from a woman asking if her son was her child. The message stated: "Inform him thanks for breaking into my flat."
In a statement presented to the proceedings, the mother said the woman had been in the news, asserting her infant's ashes had been taken in a burglary - a claim which was false.
Law Enforcement Investigation
An investigation report from police later concluded the alleged break-in victim had "lied to police" and "evidence shows that said property was not stolen in the first place".
Media reports about the alleged stolen remains generated social media comments, and although Kai was not named in the messages, his mother said people "understood it was him".
The "social media content were really upsetting", she stated.
Emotional Wellbeing Impact
She explained that Kai had been identified with mild ADHD, and as part of that condition, other peoples' opinions genuinely mattered to him.
"It would have hurt him deeply," she said, "particularly when this was untrue".
The teenager was detained at his residence, but nothing was found. He was taken to a police station and later freed under investigation.
Authorities said they would be in touch, the inquest learned, but had not contacted the relatives by the time of his death.
Withdrawal and Worry
His mother said Kai "withdrew into himself" after the detention and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had received anything from the police", because his ADHD meant sometimes "certain periods could feel like days".
When she spoke to him about the alleged burglary, she said her son told her he had entered the house because the woman who resided there had said he could utilize the toilet whenever he needed, but denied removing anything.
Online Bullying
In a combined testimony between her and her husband, the mother said her son was being bullied online after the accusations.
The inquest heard that one young adult urged the teenager to end his life.
She had no worries on the night before he passed away, describing how she had heard him "laughing and joking".
She portrayed him as a "compassionate, affectionate" young man, and said her "family is totally devastated".
He had been "obviously concealing his concerns", she stated, noting that he could not bear to have anyone "think bad of him".
Educational Response
The hearing received testimony from school staff at the local secondary school.
On November 8th, she "heard some boys talking that the student had been arrested and that was the first I learned".
"He told me... he'd done nothing wrong," she added.
After the conversation, the educator said she called the family's family telephone and provided a message saying she had communicated to Kai about the accusations.
The court heard his parents said they did not receive that message.
Official Finding
Lead coroner told the inquest he would await documents regarding what improvements had been made to handling suspects with ADHD, before deciding whether he should make a prevention of subsequent deaths report.
Delivering a narrative finding, he said: "Approximately November 8th, 2021, unsupported accusations were made against the teenager, a young child.
"Probably untruths were afterwards embellished and exaggerated through the medium of social media.
"During November 11th, he was questioned by the police and after his interview he was released whilst investigations continued."
The coroner determined: "There is no proof that the actions 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."