Youth Discovered Dead After Untrue Allegations of Taking Cremated Remains

Family Photo
The teenager's parents found his body in his room in late 2021

A teenage boy was found dead just days following being falsely accused of stealing the ashes of a dead infant during a break-in, a coroner's inquiry has heard.

Heartbreaking Discovery

The young boy's parents found his body in his room at his Flintshire residence on 19 November 2021.

False Allegations Start

The investigation heard how his parent got a message on 8 November 2021 via social media, from a individual asking if her son was her offspring. The communication stated: "Tell him thanks for burgling my flat."

In a statement presented to the court, Lisa Lloyd said the individual had been in the news, asserting her baby's remains had been stolen in a break-in - a allegation which was false.

Police Investigation

An investigation report from police later determined the alleged break-in victim had "provided false information" and "it now appears that said items was not stolen in the first place".

Media reports about the alleged taken remains attracted social media responses, and although the teenager was not named in the messages, his mother said individuals "understood it was him".

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

Emotional Health Effect

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

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

Kai was arrested at his residence, but no evidence was found. He was transported to a police station and later freed under investigation.

Authorities said they would be in touch, the inquest heard, but had not contacted the family by the moment of his passing.

Isolation and Anxiety

His mother said her son "withdrew into himself" after the arrest and "would keep asking me whether I had received anything from the police", because his condition meant sometimes "a minute could seem like days".

When she talked to him about the supposed incident, she said her son told her he had gone into the residence because the woman who lived there had said he could use the toilet anytime he needed, but denied taking anything.

Online Harassment

In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, Mrs Lloyd said her son was being harassed online after the allegations.

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

She had no concerns on the night before he passed away, describing how she had listened to him "chuckling and teasing".

She portrayed him as a "caring, affectionate" boy, and said her "family is completely devastated".

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

School Reaction

The inquest received testimony from educational staff at Connah's Quay High School.

On 8 November, she "overheard some students talking that the student had been arrested 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 Kai's family landline and provided a message saying she had spoken to Kai about the accusations.

The proceedings heard his parents said they did not receive that communication.

Official Finding

Lead coroner informed the inquest he would await reports regarding what improvements had been made to handling suspects with ADHD, before determining whether he should make a prevention of subsequent deaths report.

Providing a descriptive finding, he said: "Around November 8th, 2021, unsupported accusations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old child.

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

"On 11 November, he was questioned by the authorities and after his interview he was freed whilst investigations continued."

The coroner concluded: "Exists no evidence that the actions or omissions of any agency led to or contributed to his death and although it was the outcome of a self-inflicted action it is not possible to determine his purpose."

Danny Hudson
Danny Hudson

Tech enthusiast and startup advisor with a passion for fostering innovation in the Italian market.