Inmate charged with murder found dead in El Dorado County jail cell

A man who had been in custody at the El Dorado County Jail in Placerville since November has died.

Correctional officers found Dennis Renk, 39, unresponsive in his cell at 12:24 a.m. Saturday, August 27.

Renk was immediately treated by the officers and jail medical staff, then transferred into the care of El Dorado County Fire Paramedics and transported to Marshall Hospital. He was pronounced deceased by hospital staff at 4:13 p.m.

He had been in custody since November 6, 2015, when he was arrested on charges of homicide after an altercation in Camino, Calif.

The Sheriff’s Office initiated the Critical Incident Protocol, which is common with all in custody incidents of this nature. Taking this action activates a multi-agency investigative team comprised of Sheriff Detectives, District Attorney Investigators, CHP Investigators, South Lake Tahoe PD Detectives, and Placerville PD Detectives), and provides for complete impartiality in the investigation.

The cause of his death is under investigation by the Critical Incident Protocol Team and by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Coroner Unit.

-South Tahoe Now Staff Report