DUNBAR, Pa. — A woman is facing charges after her 9-year-old adopted daughter, who had been originally reported missing, was found dead early Thursday.
Pennsylvania State Police said Renesmay Eutsey was found partially submerged in the Youghiogheny River near Smithton in Westmoreland County around 3:30 a.m.
Kourtney Malinda Eutsey, 31, has been charged with 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.
Renesmay Eutsey was reported missing just after 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, but state police determined that she disappeared around 6 a.m.
“We believe she was using some electronic devices around 5:30 to 5:41 this morning from the residence,” State Police Sgt. Rickey Stizer said during a press conference on Wednesday.
On Thursday morning, Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele said Kourtney Eutsey, the girl’s adoptive mother, misled and withheld information from investigators during their search.
“It is very frustrating. We had a lot of search teams out. We had a lot of people looking for this girl. A lot of false hope,” Aubele said.
Aubele did not say the exact cause of death, but said that it is clear that Renesmay Eutsey was abused. He said the girl appeared to be malnourished and had several bruises and cigarette burns on her body.
“It’s very apparent that this girl suffered,” Aubele said.
Children & Youth Services is involved, and all the other children living in the home have been removed.
Kourtney Eutsey is in the Fayette County Prison and has been denied bond because she is deemed a “threat to self and others,” according to court documents.
Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
©2025 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
