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Pennsylvania Seeks Death Penalty for Two Women Accused of Torturing 9-Year-Old Foster Daughter Found in Tote Bag

The Fayette County District Attorney's Office has filed Notices of Aggravating Circumstances and will seek the death penalty against Kourtney Eutsey and Sarah Shipley if either is convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey. The child’s body was found inside a plastic tote submerged in the Youghiogheny River. Investigators say another child in the home witnessed abuse and described seeing the defendants place the victim’s body in bags; an autopsy showed the girl was malnourished with bruises and burns. Four surviving children have been removed from the home pending further investigation.

12:43 AM, 11/25/2025Society
Pennsylvania Seeks Death Penalty for Two Women Accused of Torturing 9-Year-Old Foster Daughter Found in Tote Bag

Fayette County prosecutors announced they will seek the death penalty against two women charged in the death of their nine-year-old foster daughter after the child’s body was recovered from a plastic storage tote submerged in the Youghiogheny River.

The Fayette County District Attorney's Office filed Notices of Aggravating Circumstances against Kourtney Eutsey, 31, and Sarah Shipley, 35, saying prosecutors will pursue capital punishment if either is convicted of first-degree murder. The charges against both women include 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.

Key Allegations and Evidence

Authorities say investigators were alerted after another child in the home reported seeing the defendants strike the victim, place her body in a tote bag, and then enclose that tote inside a larger garbage bag. Court filings allege aggravating circumstances including that the defendants “knowingly created a grave risk of death,” that the offense “was committed by means of torture,” and that the victim was a child under 12 years old — factors prosecutors cite to justify seeking the death penalty.

Renesmay Eutsey, 9, was reported missing in early September and later discovered in a plastic storage container in the river. An autopsy found signs of abuse: the roughly 45-pound girl appeared malnourished and had bruises and burns. "It is very apparent that this girl suffered," said Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele.

Current Status and Child Safety

Both women remain in custody without bond. Local authorities removed the four surviving children from the home; those children have been placed with another foster family while the investigation and prosecution proceed. Reports indicate Renesmay was biologically related to both caregivers.

If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

This case is under active investigation and will proceed through the court system. Further evidence and testimony will determine whether the aggravating circumstances alleged by prosecutors meet the legal threshold for capital punishment.

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