Enough is Enough
Emotional vigil held at Dunbar Park to honor Renesmay Eutsey
Dunbar Park was filled Saturday night with people, emotions, and bubbles.
It was all part of a candlelight vigil to honor Renesmay Eutsey, the 9-year-old-Dunbar girl found dead Thursday. This vigil came on the heels of one held Friday night at Franklin Memorial Methodist Church in Dunbar.
鈥淣ow, it鈥檚 time to get angry,鈥� said Ebony Floyd, organizer of the event. 鈥淲hy didn鈥檛 anybody notice? This is not something that happened over night. Everybody failed that girl. Enough is enough.鈥�
The South Connellsville resident admitted she did not even know Eutsey but felt she had to hold this vigil which was attended by hundreds of people.
鈥淚 would hope that if something happened to one of my children that we would have the community come together,鈥� Floyd said. 鈥淣ever let anyone forget her. I would hope this brings awareness. When you鈥檙e walking around, you鈥檙e not just looking at your kids, you鈥檙e looking at your friends鈥� kids and we鈥檙e checking in on these kids and we鈥檙e not just making sure our kids are safe, but your kids are safe鈥�
Along with anger, sadness poured through the crowd as they remembered a girl whose favorite colors were pink and purple and loved strawberry ice cream cones.
鈥淲hen I realized who it was, it crushed me,鈥� said Jason Barthlomai, Dunbar Council president. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the worst things I know of to happen in this town. Now, we move forward. We remember Renesmay. We remember all of the good things about her and help that to drive us forward and she鈥檒l never be forgotten.鈥�
Jessica Richter of Dunbar called upon elected officials to do what is necessary to make sure all children are safe.
鈥淲ithout proper laws, thousands of children will continue to slip through the cracks of the current system,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e the community of concerned parents ask for the changes necessary to prevent another tragic event from occurring.鈥�
Bubbles floated through the air throughout the vigil. Floyd said it helped create a youthful, playful atmosphere.
鈥淲hen you think of kids, you think of bubbles and playgrounds and balloons and beautiful flowers,鈥� Floyd said. 鈥淲e just wanted to represent youth.鈥�
One person who spoke with emotion was Mike Aubele, Fayette County district attorney.
鈥淥ne of the unfortunate parts of my job is that a lot of times I have to deal with something like this,鈥� Aubele said. 鈥淲e wonder why something like this happens to a child. I don鈥檛 have any answers for you, but what I can provide is investigation and consequences. This little girl means a lot to me and means a lot to everybody who I work with. It shows us why we do what we do. We can never unsee what we saw Thursday morning. I know it鈥檚 hard to understand sometimes why things take time. I appreciate everybody鈥檚 patience. This is going to be a very long process. But today, let鈥檚 remember Renesmay.鈥�
Charges have been filed against Sarah Ann Shipley, 35, of Dunbar Township, and her partner Kourtney Eutsey, 31, Renesmay鈥檚 adoptive mother, who allegedly conspired to assault and kill the girl. The charges were filed against Shipley Friday, something Aubele said was eventually going to happen, but out of an abundance of caution wanted to take time before filing the charges.
鈥淚t鈥檚 uncomfortable that she was out and not charged for two days,鈥� Aubele said. 鈥淲e wanted to build more of a case.鈥�
Shipley is in the hospital after overdosing in her home Friday. Aubele said she will be arranged once she is released.
鈥淲e鈥檙e essentially babysitting her,鈥� Aubele said. 鈥淚 would say she鈥檚 probably going to milk this one as much as she can, because she knows where she鈥檚 going once she gets better.鈥�
Aubele also said he anticipates filing further charges Monday.
鈥淭here were four other children in the home,鈥� Aubele said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of dynamics we鈥檙e trying to wrap our heads around. One of these children, I believe, is still in the hospital, showing what I would say are similar signs of physical abuse. There will be additional charges for both of these individuals.鈥�
But for one night all focus was on Eutsey, a little girl who loved mermaids and unicorns and was referred to by Brittany Ober of Dunbar as a 鈥渂eautiful little girl.鈥�
鈥淪he should have been playing, laughing and dreaming about her future,鈥� Ober said, fighting through tears. 鈥淚nstead her life was stolen at the hands of the people that were supposed to protect her. Her smile was radiant. She deserved safety, love and the joys of childhood. No child should have to suffer in silence like she did.鈥�