When Renesmay Eutsey’s body was retrieved from the middle of the Youghiogheny River in Westmoreland County in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, there were six large rocks in the garbage bag with her, Trooper Jason M. Churney said.

She 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, Churney testified Friday.

Investigators don’t yet have an autopsy report, but they’re pushing forward with prosecuting the 9-year-old girl’s two caregivers in connection with her death, said Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele after a two-hour preliminary hearing.

“We don’t want to delay this process,” he said. “We want to move this thing forward, so we didn’t wait for it because we have substantial evidence that this was an intentional act.”

All charges in two cases each against Sarah Shipley, 35, and Kourtney Eutsey, 31, both of Dunbar Borough, were held for further prosecution at the conclusion of Friday’s hearing.

They 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.

Prosecutors presented 11 witnesses, some of whom broke down in tears during their testimony as they recounted the initial report midday Sept. 3 that Renesmay was missing from her home.

As troopers investigated the reported disappearance, they began to become suspicious after inconsistent statements from Shipley and Eutsey, compared to surveillance video they got and information from the oldest child who lived at the house, according to preliminary hearing testimony.

The oldest child, an 11-year-old girl, initially told troopers Renesmay ran away, troopers testified. But during a ride to the Uniontown state police station, Trooper Thomas Hisker said the girl told him “she was concerned about getting in trouble for lying earlier. She made comments about missing her sister and that she was in heaven now.

“She apologized for not telling the truth sooner,” Hisker testified, “and she was scared and didn’t want to end up like Renesmay.”

The girl went on to tell investigators that she saw Shipley and Eutsey beating Renesmay before putting her in a garbage bag and a gray tote that had broken handles, Trooper Nicole Sigwalt testified.

“She said that they used bleach to clean up and they wiped the tote down for fingerprints,” Sigwalt testified.

During the investigation into Renesmay’s disappearance, the four other children, ages 11, 6, 3 and 2, in the home were taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for evaluations.

Pediatrician Dr. Margaret Russell testified that two of the children, the 11-year-old girl and the 6-year-old boy, suffered several forms of abuse. Both had teeth pulled out by pliers.

The 6-year-old boy was emaciated and smaller in stature than his two younger siblings.

“I diagnosed him with torture,” Russell testified.

Throughout the hearing, Shipley appeared to be wiping away tears while Eutsey’s right leg bounced.

After testifying against Shipley, Billie Pokopec walked off the witness stand and angrily jabbed a finger at her sister: “I hope you rot,” she said.

Acting chief public defender Nicholas Clark, who represented Eutsey, argued that prosecutors hadn’t presented any evidence that a homicide was committed or that his client was involved.

Aubele responded that Shipley and Eutsey knew Renesmay was dying and, instead of calling for help, dumped her body in the river. Then they made false statements to police, he said.

“(It) screams of an intentional and deliberate killing,” he argued.

Shipley and Eutsey remain jailed without bail. In addition to homicide, they are facing a number of charges including aggravated assault, abuse of a corpse, conspiracy and tampering with evidence.

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

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