9-Year-Old Pennsylvania Girl Found Dead in River; Foster Mom Faces Murder Charges By Christina Coulter

A 9-year-old Pennsylvania girl vanished Wednesday and was later found dead, partially submerged in a river — and now, her foster mother is facing murder charges.

Police discovered the body of Renesmay Eutsey in the Youghiogheny River near Smithton in Westmoreland County, about 20 miles from her home in Dunbar Borough, according to WPXI, WTAE and CBS Pittsburgh.

The girl’s foster mother, Kourtney Malinda Eutsey, 31, faces charges including 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, the outlets reported.

Renesmay was last seen at home around 2 a.m. Wednesday, but she wasn’t reported missing until 12:41 p.m., according to the outlets; investigators also said an electronic device believed to belong to the girl pinged inside the residence around 6 a.m.

Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele said investigators found signs of abuse and that the girl appeared malnourished with bruises and burns, adding, “It is very apparent that this girl suffered,” per the outlets.

While police prepared a search warrant at the girl’s home, a child approached troopers and said she was “never going to see my baby sister again because she’s in Heaven,” according to CBS Pittsburgh, citing the criminal complaint.

Another girl told police she overheard Kourtney Eutsey and another adult talking about taking Renesmay to a river “far, far away,” then heard the child screaming; she said she saw the adults yelling at Renesmay before one kicked her in the stomach and later punched the witness in the mouth, the outlet reported.

The criminal complaint referenced by CBS also says the witness saw Renesmay in a bag and told police the girl’s lips were white and she looked like she was sleeping.

When questioned, Kourtney Eutsey told officers the child began to choke after vomiting and that she tried to clear her mouth but Renesmay died; Eutsey said she put the body in a bag, drove to the river and placed it along the shore bank, per CBS.

Officials said Renesmay weighed just 45 pounds and showed signs of abuse, neglect and what appeared to be cigarette burns; the district attorney said he anticipates additional charges as the investigation continues, per the outlet.

Per CBS Pittsburgh, Renesmay lived with her foster mother and another adult woman that has not been charged criminally. Three other children in the home were removed.

Eutsey is being held without bail at the Fayette County Prison as the investigation continues, and an autopsy is pending to determine the cause and manner of death, per the outlets.

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