A Pennsylvania foster mother has been arrested after police say she concealed the death of a 9-year-old girl in her care and dumped the child’s body in a tote bag by the Youghiogheny River.
The Victim: Renesmay Eutsey
The victim was identified as 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey, who had been living with foster mom and relative, 31-year-old Kourtney Eutsey, since 2019. Renesmay’s biological mother, Christina Benedetto, told local media her daughter “meant everything” to her family and questioned how anyone could treat her child “like garbage.”
The Disturbing Discovery
Renesmay was reported missing on Wednesday, prompting a search by Pennsylvania State Police. Before officers could begin searching the foster mother’s home, one of Eutsey’s younger children approached investigators with a heartbreaking statement.
According to the affidavit, the child apologized “for not telling the truth” and revealed that Renesmay was dead. The child claimed to have overheard Eutsey discussing taking Renesmay to a river “far, far away” and described hearing her sister screaming before she went quiet.
Abuse Allegations
The sibling also alleged that Eutsey and another adult had been yelling at Renesmay and kicked her in the stomach. Police say Renesmay’s body, which weighed only 45 pounds, showed multiple signs of abuse and neglect, including untreated cigarette burns, one of which may have become infected.
Eutsey allegedly admitted she was afraid to call 911 because she feared getting into trouble for Renesmay’s injuries and frail condition. Instead, she reportedly placed the child’s body in a garbage bag, put it in a tote, and drove to a riverbank in Fayette County, where she abandoned it.
Charges Against Kourtney Eutsey
Eutsey has been charged with:
Homicide
Abuse of a corpse
Endangering the welfare of a child
Her three biological children, ages 7, 4, and 2, have since been removed from her home and placed in the care of another relative.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not yet released the official cause of death. Police continue to investigate both the abuse allegations and the circumstances leading to Renesmay’s tragic death.
The heartbreaking case of Renesmay Eutsey has shaken her family and community. As her biological mother mourns the loss of her daughter, the legal system will now determine accountability for the abuse and death of a young girl whose life was cut short far too soon.
