Charges filed against two more women in connection with death of girl, 9, found in Yough River

The Fayette County district attorney has filed charges against two additional women in connection with the death of a 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey in September for allegedly failing to do anything to stop the abuse that ultimately killed the girl.

Theresa Marie Shipley, 63, grandmother of the victim, and Sandra Umensetter, 51, a friend of the family, both face three charges each of endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment, District Attorney Michael Aubele announced Tuesday.

Ms. Shipley is also facing an additional count of failing to report suspected child abuse, the district attorney said.

The new charges come after Renesmay's foster mom, Kourtney Eutsey, and her wife, Sarah Shipley, were charged with homicide in the girl's death in September after her body was found in the Youghiogheny River in a bag weighed down by large rocks.

Mr. Aubele said the latest charges came after his office received an autopsy report that Renesmay died of malnourishment and neglect, while additional causes of her death include blunt force trauma to the neck, head and torso.

The injuries associated with the child's cause of death matched injuries that a 7-year-old victim also sustained, but survived, the district attorney said.

The 7-year-old girl was not identified, but Mr. Aubele said in September that four children were removed from the home where Renesmay died, including a child, who was 6 at the time, taken to UPMC Children's Hospital in Lawrenceville for a medical evaluation.

Mr. Aubele said a search of cellphones belonging to Ms. Umensetter and Theresa Shipley confirmed numerous dates and times in the lead-up to Renesmay's death that she was in the care of the two women, who allegedly were aware of the abuse.

"In short, the children in the home were subjected to severe child abuse and neglect over a long period of time," Mr. Aubele said in a news release. "These two defendants were present for it and supervised these children during the times they were severely abused; they did nothing to help them."

The women were arraigned on Tuesday, according to the district attorney. Both women were being held in Fayette County Prison after they were unable to post bail, according to court records. The amount of bail was not listed.

A preliminary hearing has been set for April 29 before Magisterial District Judge Nathan A. Henning.

After a preliminary hearing in November. Ms. Eutsey and Sarah Shipley were held for trial on more than two dozen charges. The district attorney later announced plans to seek the death penalty in the case.

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