A forensic pathologist testified about the extensive injuries found on 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey’s body during a court hearing involving the two women accused of killing her.
Renesmay’s foster mother, Kourtney Eutsey, and Eutsey’s wife, Sarah Shipley, are charged in her murder. Prosecutors allege the women subjected Renesmay to years of abuse and starvation before she died in September 2025.
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Renesmay’s body was found partially submerged in the Youghiogheny River. Prosecutors allege Eutsey transported the child’s body there in a tote.
The testimony offered a detailed account of Renesmay’s physical condition and evidence prosecutors say points to a prolonged pattern of abuse.
Pathologist details extensive injuries
A forensic pathologist testified that Renesmay weighed 47 pounds at the time of her autopsy.
That was the same weight she reportedly had at her last known doctor’s appointment 14 months earlier.
The pathologist described injuries extending from Renesmay’s head to her legs, including large ulcers across her back, arms and legs, patches of missing hair and teeth in poor condition.
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She also had blunt force trauma to her head and neck, bleeding on the brain, a broken rib, a large tear in her shoulder muscle and an extensive injury to her armpit.
The testimony included descriptions of both older and newer wounds on Renesmay’s body. The injury to her armpit was described as one of the most severe injuries found.
The district attorney said the case involved an alleged pattern of abuse over an extended period.
“We are alleging this was a pattern of abuse over a long period of time,” Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said.
Video shows Renesmay and brother months before her death
Prosecutors also entered video into evidence from approximately six months before Renesmay’s death.
Aubele described footage showing two of the children appearing extremely thin and malnourished. Renesmay’s hair had been cut very short, which prosecutors said one of the children reported was done as punishment.
“There’s a video we found of two of the children that appear to be very malnourished, skinny. Renesmay’s hair is cut very short, something we were told by one of the children was being done as punishment. It’s very disturbing,” Aubele testified.
The video showed the children eating chili, according to the district attorney.
Investigators have also said spicy food was used as punishment. Allegations in the case include children being made to eat food with hot sauce, including Pop-Tarts.
Eutsey and Shipley also face charges accusing them of abusing and neglecting two other children who lived in the home: a 6-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl.
Defense challenges death penalty, seeks change of venue
The district attorney is seeking the death penalty against Eutsey and Shipley.
Aubele’s request cited evidence prosecutors say shows a pattern of abuse involving Renesmay and the other children in the home.
The defense is asking the judge to remove the death penalty as a possible sentence. The judge has not yet ruled on that request.
The defense also asked for a change of venue, arguing extensive news coverage and pretrial publicity could make it difficult to seat an impartial jury in Fayette County.
Aubele disagreed, telling the court he believes the county is the appropriate place for the case to be heard.
“We believe that Fayette County is the appropriate venue, that we can find a fair and impartial jury here,” Aubele said.
Defense seeks restrictions on district attorney’s public comments
The defense also asked the judge to bar Aubele from giving media interviews and restrict his ability to post about the case on social media.
The defense argued that a recent social media post contributed to public outrage, pointing to comments calling for Eutsey to be put through a wood chipper.
The wood chipper reference also became a moment outside the courtroom.
As Eutsey was being escorted back to jail following the hearing, a woman who had attended the proceedings shouted, “Wood chip her.”
The defense is asking the judge to restrict the district attorney’s public comments while the case moves forward.
The judge is expected to rule on the pending motions next month.
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