Prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced that they intend to seek the death penalty for two women accused of killing a 9-year-old girl under their care, stuffing her body into a tote bag, and abandoning it along the riverbank.
Both Kourtney Eutsey, 31, and Sarah Shipley, 35, face first-degree murder charges in the death of Renesmay Eutsey. The Fayette County District Attorney’s Office stated that due to the “aggravated circumstances” surrounding the case, both women will face capital punishment if convicted.
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The investigation began on September 3 after Renesmay was reported missing. The hunt ended tragically the next day, when Pennsylvania State Police discovered the child’s body in a bag on the shores of the Youghiogheny River.
According to court documents, the breakthrough in the investigation came from a chilling witness account provided by another child in the home. As cops prepared to search Kourtney Eutsey’s residence, a young sibling reportedly approached them and “apologized for not telling the truth.”
WTAE reported that the child told police, “I’m never going to see my baby sister again because she’s in heaven,” before explaining how Eutsey killed Renesmay and placed her in the tote. According to the complaint, the sibling heard Renesmay scream and weep and saw the two women yelling at the victim and kicking her in the stomach.
Investigators discovered a terrible history of alleged abuse in the family. When found, Renesmay weighed only 45 pounds. Authorities found signs of severe neglect on her body, such as infected cigarette burns that had never received professional attention.
According to reports, the abuse also affected other youngsters in the family. A doctor examined the surviving children and noticed that two of them had missing teeth, which were allegedly caused by Shipley ripping them out with pliers. Despite being homeschooled, an 11-year-old girl in the household did not know how to read, and a 6-year-old kid was discovered to be chronically malnourished and dehydrated.
Kourtney Eutsey was listed as Renesmay’s blood-related, legal guardian and foster mother, with Shipley also serving as legal guardian.
