How Could You? Hall of Shame-Renesmay Eutsey case-Child Death UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Fayette County, Pennsylvania, two foster parents?, Kourtney Eutsey and Sarah Shipley, will have the death penalty initiated due to the killing of Renesmay Eutsey,9.

Renesmay has the same last name as the person who allegedly killed her… so maybe it was a kinship placement rather than a true foster placement. In one article, they refer to the couple as guardians. This article says that Renesmay is biologically related to both?

Kay…Anywho…

“Pennsylvania prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against two women accused of torturing and murdering a 9-year-old foster girl who was in their care earlier this year, after authorities found her body in a tote bag submerged in the Youghiogheny River.😢

The Fayette County District Attorney’s Office announced its intent on Friday to seek the death penalty against Kourtney Eutsey and Sarah Shipley, if the Pittsburgh area foster parents are convicted on first-degree murder charges.

“This morning, we filed Notices of Aggravating Circumstances against Kourtney Eutsey and Sarah Shipley in the Renesmay Eutsey homicide case,” the district attorney’s office.”

“PEOPLE previously reported that Eutsey, 31, and Shipley, 35, were both arrested in September and charged with criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and concealing the death of a child.

Prosecutors said they are seeking the death penalty due to aggravating circumstances, alleging in a Fayette County court filing that Shipley and Eutsey “knowingly created a grave risk of death,” that their alleged “offense was committed by means of torture,” and that “the victim was a child under 12 years of age.”

The two women continue to be held in custody without bond, according to CBS News, TribLive, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Renesmay Eutsey was first reported missing in early September, but CBS News reported that state troopers grew suspicious of her foster parents after another foster child in the women’s care allegedly told investigators they saw Eutsey and Shipley beat Renesmay, put her body in a tote bag and then place that bag inside a larger garbage bag.😲

Citing a criminal complaint, the Post-Gazette reported that the foster child who allegedly told police they saw Eutsey and Shipley harm Renesmay claimed they witnessed the foster parents “[kick] her in the stomach” after hearing a commotion outside their bedroom.

According to the complaint, the foster child told police that “[Renesmay] is dead now” — but the child didn’t fully understand the concept of death until a family member attempted to explain it to them. “I’m never gonna see her again. I miss her,” the child reportedly said, according to the Post-Gazette. “She probably is alive. She might be alive.”

PEOPLE previously reported that Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele said investigators found signs of abuse while performing an autopsy on Renesmay’s roughly 45-pound body, saying the girl appeared malnourished with bruises and burns.😠

“It is very apparent that this girl suffered,” Aubele said, according to local WPXI.

Renesmay was biologically related to both Eutsey and Shipley, according to TribLive, which also reported that the two women were caregivers for five children in total. The four surviving children have since been removed from the home and placed in another foster family’s care, according to the outlet.”

Girl, 9, Was Allegedly Tortured and Found in Tote Bag Submerged in River — Foster Parents May Face Death Penalty
[People 11/24/25 by Sean Neumann]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:“Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele on Tuesday issued a press release announcing charges against two more people: Theresa Marie Shipley, 63, and Sandra Lynn Umensetter, 51. Aubele identifies the women as Renesmay’s grandmother and a friend of the family, respectively.

Per Aubele, both women are facing charges of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. Theresa also faces an additional count of persons required to report suspected child abuse.”

“Cellular analysis of cell phones reportedly confirmed “numerous dates and times in the months before Renesmay’s death” that Theresa and Umensetter were caring for the children, Aubele said.

“In short, the children in the home were subjected to severe child abuse and neglect over a long period of time,” Aubele’s release concluded. “These two defendants were present for it and supervised these children during the times they were severely abused; they did nothing to help them.””

“Both women are expected to be arraigned on Tuesday afternoon [April 21, 2026].”

2 more people charged in death of 9-year-old girl in Fayette County
[WPXI 4/21/26 by Sierra Rehm]