A 10-year-old girl was strangled to death by an 11-year-old boy at a care home hours after being raped by a burglar who found her during a break-in, police in Germany believe.

The young victim, named only as Lena, was found dead on her room at the facility in Wunsiedel, Bavaria, on April 4.

She was only meant to be living there until Easter while the courts decided whether she could live with her dad.

The older suspect, identified as Daniel T and said to be a refuse collector, is said to have climbed in through a window on the night Lena died.

While rummaging around for things to steal, he is said to have come across the two children and assaulted the girl before fleeing.

Prosecutors believe the 11-year-old boy, Lena’s roommate, then murdered her later that evening following an argument.

He is not yet at the age of criminal responsibility, so even if he were to be found guilty he would receive no punishment.

Prosecutors explained: ‘Trace results and forensic reports led the investigators to two suspects, aged 11 and 25, one after the other.

‘After the intensive investigation, the 25-year-old is strongly suspected of having raped the 10-year-old.’

They continued: ‘With regard to the killing of the girl, the investigators and the public prosecutor assume that the 11-year-old boy killed her without the participation of the 25-year-old.

‘The 25-year-old is said to have performed sexual acts on the 10-year-old. He is said to have left the facility afterwards.’

Daniel T remains in custody charged with rape and burglary.

Prosecutors said: ‘During the course of the preliminary investigation, he largely confessed to the crimes he was accused of.’

One of Lena’s father’s neighbours, Sandra B, 33, told German media: ‘She would have had the opportunity to go to her dad.

‘I’m stunned, speechless. I’m lost for words. I can’t understand why it happened like this.

‘And all that in a home where there should be supervision. Where, as a parent, you think everything is fine.’

Lena, she added, was a ‘fun-loving, open-minded’ girl and loved horses and playing the piano.

She said: ‘We did a lot, went to playgrounds, carved pumpkins for Halloween, went down the water slides in the amusement park.’

The Hof Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that the investigation is ongoing.

Lena died three weeks after Luise Frisch, 12, from Freudenberg, North Rhine-Westphalia State, Germany, was killed on a playdate with friends.

Her body was found in an embankment with more than 30 stab wounds.

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