A tragic incident unfolded as a 14-year-old boy took his own life following false accusations of stealing a baby’s ashes, an inquest revealed.
Kai Lloyd’s father, John, discovered his son’s body in their residence on Dodds Drive, Connah’s Quay, on November 19, 2021, just eight days after his arrest.
During the inquest in Ruthin, it was disclosed that Kai’s mother, Lisa Lloyd, received a text message on November 8 from Chloe Robinson, who wrongly accused Kai of burglarizing her flat.
Although media reports claimed that Ms. Robinson’s deceased baby’s ashes were stolen in a burglary, this information was unfounded but quickly spread across social platforms and national publications.
Mrs. Lloyd expressed that despite Kai not being named in the articles, the small community they lived in was aware of his involvement, leading to relentless bullying at school due to the online allegations.
She emphasized Kai’s caring nature and denied any wrongdoing on his part, even reaching out to the police to clear his name, but received no response in the days leading up to his tragic demise.
Testimonies from the school’s pastoral coordinator and head of year, Sue Messham, attested to Kai’s positive character and the distress caused by his untimely passing, with the headteacher, James Forber, highlighting policy changes post the incident.
The coroner, John Gittins, cited a report from North Wales Police revealing the fabrication behind the alleged burglary and emphasized the detrimental impact of baseless claims amplified through social media.
Concluding with a narrative verdict, the coroner highlighted the lack of evidence linking external factors to Kai’s decision, raising concerns about handling similar cases involving individuals with ADHD within the police force.
