Girl, 14, Found Dead At Children's Home - Eight Days After Her Friend Died

Girl, 14, Found Dead At Children's Home - Eight Days After Her Friend Died
Teen girl offers to help her friend crying on the floor. silhouette
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Teen girl offers to help her friend crying on the floor. silhouette

Tributes have been paid to a 14-year-old girl who was found dead at a children's home a week after her friend was found dead after a party.

Danielle Formosa, from Sunderland, is believed to have been found by staff at the home.

According to her Facebook page, Danielle was a friend of Sarah Clerkson, also from Sunderland, who was found hanged after a house party in Spennymoor, also County Durham, eight days ago.

An inquest into the death at East Farmhouse Children's Home in Consett on Tuesday will be opened this morning but police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.

Durham Police said: "Police attended an address in Consett at around 9.50am on Tuesday, December 17 in response to reports of the sudden death of a 14-year-old girl.

"A post mortem examination has taken place and there appears to be no suspicious circumstances.

"The coroner has been informed."

Sarah Clerkson was found dying after being put to bed early by friends after a party.

Earlier Sarah had written on the social networking site: "Fuming honest to God might just end it there and then!"

Her grandparents David and Linda Chapman thought she had 'turned a corner' in the weeks before the tragedy.

David, 64, said: "She was emotionally disturbed but we thought she had turned a corner, we thought things were starting to change for her.

"The last month or two she's been with her new foster parents, everything had been positive."

Amongst the tributes on her Facebook page was one from Paul Summerside, who said: "God bless you Danielle. A privilege to coach you 2 years at Redby Ladies FC. Fantastic player on the pitch, smashing girl off it. Rip."

Another, Jess Venner said: "I'm so proud to say I knew you, you were an amazing girl, Dan. Posting on here won't bring you back but I love you so much."

A spokesman for Minster Homes said: "We are currently liaising with and co-operating with Durham Constabulary."

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