Girl, 13, found dead had 'a big heart'

A police car is parked on the pavement alongside an iron fence.
Image caption,

Police were called to Sheepridge Road in Huddersfield just after 23:30 BST on 11 August

  • Published

The former school of a 13-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in a flat and later died has paid tribute to her as a "one-of-a kind young person" who "will be deeply missed".

Casey-Louise Horrocks, a pupil of Mossley Hollins High School in Tameside, Greater Manchester, was found by emergency services in a flat in Huddersfield on 11 August and died later in hospital.

In a statement, the school said Casey-Louise's "heartbreaking" death had deeply affected the school community and the pupil had a "big heart".

A 16-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of murder and rape following her death has been released on conditional bail, West Yorkshire Police said.

A police spokesperson said the arrested boy, from Huddersfield, had also been arrested and released on conditional bail in relation to the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl in a separate incident in Kirklees.

Both incidents remain under investigation.

'Full of character'

In a tribute the school described Casey-Louise as "bright, full of character, always full of life, and never afraid to be herself".

She brought "spirit and warmth wherever she went" and had "a smile that could brighten anyone's day", they said.

They said: "Casey was bright, full of character, always full of life, and never afraid to be herself.

"Those lucky enough to know her saw what a big heart she had."

The school said specialists would be present when the new term began in September to offer students and staff emotional support.

West Yorkshire Police said Casey-Louise had been living in Liverpool at the time of her death.

The force was called by the ambulance service to reports of a girl found unresponsive in a flat on Sheepridge Road, Huddersfield.

She was taken to hospital where she died in the early hours of the following day.

A post-mortem concluded her death was unexplained pending further investigation.

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