THE distraught family of a 9-year-old girl found dead inside a trash bag submerged in a river ripped the foster parents accused of the heinous murder as “cruel and despicable.”
The remains of Renesmay Eutsey were discovered in the Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania on Thursday, hours after her foster parents reported her missing to authorities.
Sarah Shipley, Renesmay’s court-appointed custodian, called authorities on Wednesday afternoon, claiming the 9-year-old left their home in Dunbar, about 20 miles south from where the child’s body was found, in the middle of the night.
Shipley claimed to Pennsylvania State Police that the other children in the home told her that Renesmay talked about “running away” and that it “made sense because the bedroom window was cracked open,” according to a criminal complaint.
However, when questioned by troopers, the other children told investigators that they allegedly saw Shipley and her girlfriend Kourtney Eutsey, Renesmay’s other foster parent, yelling and kicking the 9-year-old in the stomach.
One of the children told investigators that she was “never going to see my baby sister again because she’s in heaven,” the criminal complaint claimed.
Another child told police she allegedly heard Eutsey and Shipley talking about taking Renesmay to a river “far, far away,” then heard the child screaming.
During interviews with police, Eutsey then claimed that a week before going missing, Renesmay had burned her back in a bathtub.
Eutsey, 31, also told authorities that the burn might have become infected and caused Renesmay to vomit on Tuesday evening, according to the criminal complaint.
She claimed Renesmay began choking on her vomit and, despite trying to resuscitate her by performing CPR, the young girl died.
Eutsey allegedly told police she was too afraid to call 911 because she did not “want to get in trouble due to the victim’s burn and how skinny she looked.”
Instead, Eutsey allegedly placed Renesmay inside a tote, then in a black garbage bag, and drove towards the Youghiogheny River near Smithton and dumped her in the shallow waters, court records claim.
‘HORRIFYING REALITY’
Eutsey directed police to the location of Renesmay’s remains on Thursday morning, where she was recovered on the edge of the riverbank.
Authorities arrested Eutsey and charged her with homicide, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, abuse of corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the death of a child.
Felicia Fletcher, a relative of both Shipley and Renesmay’s biological mother, was in disbelief when she learned about her little cousin’s heinous death.
“The thought of how selfish, cruel, and despicable one could be to hurt an innocent child is sickening,” Fletcher told The U.S. Sun.
“This baby had her life stolen from her. It’s unbearable to think that those kids will carry this memory with them for the rest of their lives, replaying it over and over.
“They [the other children] must have been terrified to speak out, likely threatened into silence. The idea that they [the parents] continued living with this pain, knowing they hurt her knowing she would never return makes my heartache.
“Instead of coming forward, they called for a search party as if that might somehow absolve them.
“They could have come clean and let us help find her, but now, all we have is this horrifying reality.”
On Friday, Shipley, Renesmay’s court-appointed custodian, was charged with criminal homicide and conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, among others crimes.
‘SUFFERED IN SILENCE’
Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele said it is likely Renesmay was killed before she was reported missing.
Aubele said Renesmay’s body showed signs of abuse, telling NBC affiliate WSAZ-TV on Thursday, “What we saw this morning was a girl that appears to be malnourished, various bruises, cigarette burns on her body.”
Fletcher told The U.S. Sun Shipley and Eutsey were also fostering Renesmay’s three other biological siblings after their birth parents lost custody of them due to a past drug addiction.
The relative said Christina Benedetto, Renesmay’s biological mom, turned to her cousin Shipley to care for her children.
“Christina looked for somebody within the family to take care of the children. Sarah had already had custody of one child that belonged to somebody else that’s not family related,” Fletcher added.
“Christina trusted her as she is family.”
Fletcher recalled seeing the subtle changes to Renesmay’s body after she was placed into the care of Shipley and Eutsey.
“I would catch glimpses of Renesmay during family gatherings or brief visits. Honestly, she seemed happiest when she was with her mom.
“Whenever I looked at photos, I could see the subtle changes in her size and appearance.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I suspect any form of abuse. Last night, I sat in tears, unable to sleep, overwhelmed by thoughts of how, why, and what went wrong.
“Renesmay was just nine years old, yet she endured so much already. What struck me most was her smile.
“She was always playing, always laughing. To everyone else, she seemed perfectly fine.
“But as I reflect more deeply, it became clear that this little girl had learned to wear a mask – to fake happiness when, in reality, she had experienced so much pain at such a young age.
“I realized it was fear that drove her to this facade; she was so frightened of them that she put on a brave face.
“That radiant smile masked a world of hurt, leaving me heartbroken as I thought about the innocence she had to sacrifice.”
SHOCKING TWIST
Hours before she was officially hit with charges related to Renesmay’s death, Aubele, the Fayette County district attorney, told ABC affiliate WTAE-TV that Shipley was found unconscious inside her home from an apparent overdose.
Shipley was alive despite her condition.
Fletcher told The U.S. Sun Shipley’s overdose spoke volumes about the “torment she faces.”
“The pain of betrayal is profound, and to watch someone so deeply entwined in these dark circumstances only adds to the heartache,” the relative said.
“It’s a tragic situation that no one should have to endure.”
Eutsey is being held without bail at the Fayette County Prison.
Renesmay’s cause of death has not been determined and an autopsy is pending.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800 422 4453 or live chat at https://www.childhelphotline.org/.
If a child or other person is in immediate danger, contact 911 immediately.
