Congressman Reveals Cause of Death of Teenage Daughter

Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) speaks during a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 8, 2022. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The family of a 17-year-old who died over the summer says she passed away from sudden heart problems.

Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and his wife said in a statement that Gwen Casten died in June of a sudden cardiac arrhythmia.

“In layman’s terms, she was fine, and then her heart stopped,” the grieving parents said. “We don’t know what caused the arrhythmia, and likely never will.”

According to the National Liberty of medicine, arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It can refer to a heart that is beating too quickly, too slowly, or with an otherwise irregular pattern.

Gwen died on June 13, her family announced. At the time, they said they wouldn’t discuss details of the death.

According to media reports, Gwen died in the family’s home just before 7 a.m.

In the update, the Castens said the teen died after spending time with friends.

“She had just come home from an evening with friends, went to bed, and didn’t wake up,” they said.

The parents said Gwen was a healthy teenager.

“She ate well, exercised, got regular check-ups, didn’t suffer from any behavioral health issues, and had close relationships with family and friends,” they said, adding that she had received a COVID-19 vaccine. She had also tested positive for COVID-19 on multiple occasions, but did not experience symptoms.

“We are heartbroken, but we are not unique,” the Castens said. “Sudden unexplained heart-failure among young, healthy people is rare but real. We are left grasping at the wrong end of random chance.”

Casten, 50, represents Illinois’ 6th Congressional District. He has been in office since 2019. He married his wife, Kara, in 2000. They have another child, Audrey.

The family encouraged people to “hug the folks you love,” “be present in their lives,” and “spread your love a little farther,” adding, “Because in the end, it’s all that remains.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, coronary artery disease causes most sudden cardiac deaths. In younger people, the clinic says, congenital heart defects or genetic abnormalities are most often the cause.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries, including the United States, have recorded jumps in excess deaths, or the number of deaths that would be expected during normal times.

Some experts have suggested the increase stems at least in part from COVID-19, while others have pointed to COVID-19 vaccines as a cause.

Other potential causes include drugs, alcohol, and murder.