A 14-year-old boy from Connah’s Quay, Wales, died by suicide after being wrongly accused of stealing a baby’s ashes, an inquest has heard.
Kai Lloyd was found dead in his bedroom on November 19, 2021 — just eight days after his arrest in connection with the alleged burglary, which police later confirmed never occurred.
According to evidence presented at the Ruthin inquest, Kai’s mother, Lisa Lloyd, received a text message from a woman named Chloe Robinson claiming Kai had broken into her flat and stolen her deceased baby’s ashes. The allegation, which was false, quickly spread across social media and was repeated by national news outlets.
Although Kai’s name was not mentioned publicly, his mother said the close-knit community quickly linked him to the accusation. “He cared deeply about others and would never have hurt anyone,” Mrs. Lloyd told the inquest. “Being accused of something so cruel devastated him.”
Kai, who had been diagnosed with mild ADHD, was reportedly bullied at school after the rumours circulated. Staff members described him as kind and popular, with one teacher saying he had “an infectious smile.”
North Wales Police later confirmed that the woman who made the allegations had lied and that the property was never stolen.
Senior coroner John Gittins ruled Kai’s death as a “self-inflicted act,” citing the “unsubstantiated allegations” and “falsehoods amplified through social media.” He added that there was no evidence any agency’s actions directly contributed to the tragedy.
The coroner said he would postpone deciding whether to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report to North Wales Police until he reviews how the force handles cases involving individuals with ADHD.
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Source:Africa Publicity
