🔗 Share this article

Family Photo

One 14-year-old boy was discovered deceased just days after being wrongly blamed of stealing the ashes of a deceased infant during a burglary, an inquest has learned.

Tragic Finding

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

Untrue Accusations Start

The inquest heard how his mother received a communication on 8 November 2021 via online platforms, from a woman asking if Kai was her child. The message added: "Tell him thanks for burgling my apartment."

In a statement read to the court, the mother said the individual had been in the media, claiming her infant's remains had been taken in a burglary - a allegation which was false.

Law Enforcement Inquiry

An investigation report from police later concluded the supposed break-in victim had "provided false information" and "evidence shows that said items was never taken in the beginning".

Media reports about the alleged stolen remains generated online comments, and although Kai was not identified in the messages, his mother said people "knew it was him".

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

Mental Health Impact

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

"This must have affected him severely," she commented, "particularly when this was not true".

The teenager was detained at home, but no evidence was found. He was taken to a police station and later released pending further inquiry.

Police said they would be in touch, the hearing heard, but had not reached out to the relatives by the time of his death.

Withdrawal and Worry

His parent said her son "became isolated" after the detention and "repeatedly inquired me whether I had heard anything from the police", because his condition meant sometimes "certain periods could feel like much longer".

When she talked to him about the supposed incident, she said her son informed her he had entered the residence because the resident who resided there had said he could use the bathroom anytime he wanted, but denied removing anything.

Online Bullying

In a combined testimony between her and her spouse, the mother said her son was being harassed digitally after the accusations.

The inquest learned that one young adult encouraged the teenager to kill himself.

She had no concerns on the evening before he passed away, explaining how she had listened to him "chuckling and joking".

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

He had been "obviously concealing his concerns", she stated, noting that he could not bear to have anybody "think bad of him".

School Reaction

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

On November 8th, she "overheard some students talking that the student had been arrested and that was the initial I learned".

"He told me... he'd done nothing wrong," she continued.

After the conversation, the educator said she rang Kai's parents' landline and left a message saying she had spoken to Kai about the accusations.

The proceedings learned his parents said they did not got that communication.

Formal Conclusion

Senior investigator informed the inquest he would await reports regarding what enhancements had been made to dealing with suspects with the condition, before determining whether he should make a avoidance of future deaths report.

Delivering a narrative conclusion, he stated: "Around 8 November 2021, unsubstantiated accusations were made against the teenager, a 14-year-old child.

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

"On 11 November, he was interviewed by the police and after his interview he was freed while inquiries continued."

The coroner determined: "Exists no evidence that the actions or failures of any organization caused or added to his passing and although it was the outcome of a personal act it is impossible to determine his purpose."