Death penalty on the table for Fayette women accused of killing 9-year-old

Fayette County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against two women accused in the death of 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey.

District Attorney Mike Aubele said notices of aggravating circumstances were filed Friday against both suspects — Sarah Shipley, 35, and Kourtney Eutsey, 31, both of Dunbar Borough. The aggravating circumstances prosecutors cited included that Renesmay died by means of torture and that she was younger than 12, according to documents he posted on social media.

The death penalty would be sought if either woman is convicted of first-degree murder.

Their attorneys could not be reached late Friday afternoon.

The notice of intent to seek the death penalty comes one week after homicide, aggravated assault, conspiracy and related charges against both women were held for further prosecution at the conclusion of a two-hour preliminary hearing.

Shipley and Eutsey were caregivers for five children at their Third Street home. Shipley was legal guardian of Renesmay.

She reported the girl missing Sept. 3, prompting a large police response in an effort to find her. Preliminary hearing testimony indicated state troopers grew suspicious that Renesmay wasn’t actually missing.

An 11-year-old girl told investigators she heard Shipley and Eutsey beating Renesmay in an upstairs bedroom and later carry her lifeless body downstairs, saying they were going to take her to a river, according to preliminary hearing testimony.

An autopsy report hadn’t yet been completed at the time of last week’s hearing, but testimony indicated Renesmay had a significant wound on her backside, injuries to her right eyebrow, legs and feet, and a large cut on the bottom of her chin.

In the early morning hours of Sept. 4, Eutsey led state police to an area near Smithton where she dumped Renesmay’s body in the Youghiogheny River. Police said there were six large rocks in the garbage bag with the girl’s body.

Shipley and Eutsey are accused in the death of Renesmay, who was related to both women, as well as the abuse of other children who were in their care. A pediatrician testified that two of those children suffered several forms of abuse.

Both had teeth pulled out by pliers.

Four children removed from the home have been placed with a foster family outside of Fayette County.

Shipley and Eutsey remain jailed without bail.

A state moratorium on executions has been in place for 10 years. The last execution in Pennsylvania was in 1999, according to state data.