A schoolgirl feared to have been raped and murdered while in the care system suffered four cardiac arrests before her tragic death, an inquest has heard.

Casey-Louise Horrocks, 13, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was found ‘unresponsive’ in the bedroom of a 16-year-old boy in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on August 11. 

She was rushed to hospital but died in the early hours of the following day.

Despite a post-mortem examination being carried out, the exact cause of the teenager’s death remains ‘unexplained’, Bradford Coroner’s Court was told.

Her death has sparked a double rape and murder investigation by West Yorkshire Police, who also arrested the teenager over the alleged rape of another 16-year-old girl in Kirklees. He has since been released on conditional bail.

This morning, assistant coroner Peter Merchant opened the inquest into Casey-Louise’s death and suspended proceedings for six months at the request of West Yorkshire Police.

Bradford Coroner’s Court heard that Casey-Louise was born on 10 March, 2012, in Oldham.

Coroner’s officer Victoria Normington told the hearing that the student passed away in Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax.

‘The brief circumstances of her sad death are that the Yorkshire Ambulance Service were called to a house in Huddersfield regarding an unresponsive teenager,’ said Mrs Normington.

‘CRT [cardiac resynchronisation therapy] was commenced and Casey was admitted to the Calderdale Royal Hospital where she was initially unresponsive and unconscious.

‘She was taken for scans and CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] was commenced as she then suffered four cardiac arrests.

‘She was sadly pronounced dead life extinct at 2.18am on 12 August.’

Casey-Louise was formally identified through photographic evidence given to detectives.

Pathologist Dr Kirsten Hope has performed a post mortem to establish the cause of death.

Coroner Mr Merchant told the inquest: ‘Currently, Dr Hope has indicated that the cause of death is unexplained, pending further investigation.

‘In those circumstances and in view of a request from West Yorkshire Police, requesting a suspension of the inquest for six months, I propose to grant the police request and therefore suspend the inquest touching the death of Casey-Louise Horrocks until 24 February, 2026.’

Casey-Louise was in local authority care when she died.