Overview of the Case
Renesmay Eutsey, a 9-year-old girl, was found dead along the Youghiogheny River in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Her foster mother and biological relative, Kourtney Eutsey, 31, has been charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Authorities allege that Eutsey disposed of Renesmay’s body by placing it in a black garbage bag, then sealing it inside a tote and leaving it along the riverbank. The child had been in her custody since 2019.
Statement from the Biological Mother
Christina Benedetto, Renesmay’s biological mother, expressed deep grief and anger over the way her daughter’s body was discarded.
“Why put her in a tote, in a garbage bag, and throw her away like she didn’t mean anything?” she said in an interview with KDKA. “She meant something, at least to us. She meant everything to us.”
Discovery and Police Investigation
Renesmay was reported missing on a Wednesday, prompting a Pennsylvania State Police search. While preparing to search the Eutsey residence, officers were approached by one of Eutsey’s young children, who made a heartbreaking confession. The child apologized for not telling the truth earlier and stated, “I’m never going to see my baby sister again because she’s in heaven.”
According to the child, they overheard Eutsey and another adult yelling at Renesmay and kicking her in the stomach. The child said she came out of her room after hearing Renesmay scream and cry. She later saw her sister with white lips and thought she was sleeping. The child admitted she didn’t understand what “dying” meant until someone explained it to her.
The same child recalled overhearing Eutsey speak about taking Renesmay “far, far away” to the river.
Condition of the Victim
When police found Renesmay’s body, she weighed just 45 pounds and showed multiple signs of neglect and abuse. These included cigarette burns, one of which appeared to be infected. Authorities believe no medical treatment was ever sought for the child.
According to the affidavit, Eutsey admitted she feared calling 911 due to the girl’s appearance and the visible burn. Instead, she placed Renesmay’s body in a black garbage bag, sealed it in a tote, and transported it in her vehicle—a dark blue Kia Sorento—to the Dawson area. She eventually stopped at a pull-off by the river and abandoned the tote along the riverbank.
Status of Other Childre
Eutsey’s three biological children, aged 7, 4, and 2, have been removed from her home and are now in the care of another relative.
Cause of Death
Local authorities have not yet released Renesmay’s official cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing as more evidence is processed and evaluated.
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