Second woman charged in 9-year-old’s death
The second woman entrusted with caring for 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey has been charged in her death.
Sarah Ann Shipley, 35, of Dunbar Township allegedly conspired with her partner Kourtney Eutsey, 31, to assault and kill the girl, and then conceal her death. According to Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele, Shipley was taken to the hospital Friday after overdosing in her home. In a Facebook post, Aubele said she will be arraigned once she is released.
Shipley and Kourtney Eutsey reported Renesmay missing on Wednesday, allegedly telling authorities the child may have wandered from their Third Street home in Dunbar.
After hours of searching, authorities alleged, Kourtney Eutsey led them to Smithton in Westmoreland County, where the girl’s body was found partially submerged in the Youghiogheny River.
One of the other children who lived in their home told police they saw Kourtney Eutsey leave the home with Renesmay’s body in a black garbage bag that was stuffed into a tote bag, court paperwork alleged.
Other children in the home told police they heard Renesmay “screaming and crying” in her room and saw Kourtney Eutney and Shipley kick the girl in her stomach, according to court documents.
Kourtney Eutsey acknowledged disposing of Renesmay’s body in the river, but told police the girl had died Tuesday night when she choked on vomit caused by an untreated infection caused by a burn, the complaint alleged. She also reportedly told police she didn’t call anyone about the child’s death because of the burn and “how skinny she looked.”
Eutsey is charged with homicide, child endangerment, abuse of a corpse, evidence tampering, concealing the death of a child and two counts of aggravated assault. Shipley faces the same charges as well as conspiracy to commit each of the offenses.
“We thank the public for their patience in allowing law enforcement to gather the additional evidence that has led us to filing these additional charges,” Aubele said.