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One 14-year-old youth was discovered deceased just days following being falsely accused of stealing the ashes of a deceased infant during a break-in, a coroner's inquiry has learned.

Heartbreaking Discovery

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

Untrue Allegations Start

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

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 break-in - a claim which was untrue.

Police Investigation

An investigation report from authorities later concluded the alleged burglary victim had "provided false information" and "evidence shows that said items was never stolen in the beginning".

News coverage about the alleged taken ashes attracted online comments, and although Kai was not identified in the posts, his mother said people "knew it was him".

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

Mental Wellbeing Impact

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

"It would have affected him severely," she commented, "particularly when this was untrue".

Kai was arrested at his residence, but no evidence was found. He was taken to a law enforcement facility and later freed pending further inquiry.

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

Isolation 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 days".

When she talked to him about the supposed burglary, she said her son told her he had gone into the house because the resident who lived there had said he could use the toilet whenever he wanted, but denied taking anything.

Digital Harassment

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

The proceedings heard that one young adult encouraged Kai to kill himself.

She had no worries on the evening before he passed away, explaining how she had heard him "laughing and joking".

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

He had been "clearly concealing his worries", she stated, adding that he could not stand to have anybody "have negative thoughts of him".

Educational Reaction

The hearing heard from school staff at Connah's Quay secondary school.

On November 8th, she "heard some boys talking that the student had been detained and that was the initial I learned".

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

After the discussion, the educator said she called the family's family telephone and left a voicemail saying she had communicated to Kai about the allegations.

The court learned his parents said they never receive that message.

Formal Conclusion

Lead coroner told the hearing he would await reports regarding what enhancements had been made to dealing with individuals with the condition, before deciding whether he should make a avoidance of future deaths report.

Delivering a narrative finding, he stated: "Approximately November 8th, 2021, unsubstantiated allegations were made against Kai Benjamin Lloyd, a 14-year-old child.

"Probably falsehoods were afterwards exaggerated and amplified through the medium of social media.

"On November 11th, he was questioned by the police and after his questioning he was freed while investigations proceeded."

The official concluded: "Exists no proof that the acts or omissions of any agency caused or added to his passing and although it was the outcome of a personal act it is impossible to determine his intent."