De'Naye Washington, 17, has died from injuries she suffered after being sexually assaulted in her home

A 17-year-old who was sexually assaulted in her home has died from injuries she suffered in the brutal attack.

De'Naye Washington was sleeping inside her home in Detroit on January 7 when her attacker burst through the window, battered over the head and sexually assaulted her.

The high school senior spent days fighting for her life in hospital, but died yesterday.

Police have named Darian Winfield, 19, as a person of interest in the attack.

De'Naye's aunt, Terri Washington, told Fox 2 Detroit that her niece's death - which is now being treated as murder - was 'senseless'.

'It's crazy and she is just a baby,' Ms Washington said. 'She got hit six times and her brain was swollen so much, there was nothing they could do - they tried everything.'

GeNaye's sister, Shaquetta, added: 'I just want to know why would you do that to her. What did she do to you why would you target her?

'She's so loving just like a big kid we were sitting here playing Uno the day before it happened.'

Police sources told the news station that fingerprints found inside the home link Winfield to the scene.

Investigators have taken DNA samples and are awaiting results.

Winfield is already being held in jail on a $1million bond after being arrested last week. He is suspected of sexually assaulting another woman in Detroit on December 13, Georgia Newsday reported.

De'Naye Washington (left) was sleeping inside her home in Detroit when her attacker - who police believe was Darian Winfield (right) - burst through the window, battered over the head and sexually assaulted her

He is also accused of breaking into another house on the same street as DeNaye's home on December 30, before allegedly stabbing a 39-year-old woman in the chest with the intent of sexually assaulting her.

James Craig, from Detroit Police Department, said: 'In one incident we know he was armed with what appeared to be a kitchen knife. In the most recent incident, blunt force trauma. We don't know what weapon may have been used.'

Winfield is yet to be charged following DeNaye's murder.

His family claim he is innocent, with his mother, Anita Pace, telling the Detroit News: 'It's not him. They have the wrong person'.