Nationwide Manhunt for alleged sex abuser with ties to Wasco County ends in surrender
After a month-long nationwide manhunt, sex offender Adam Renk, above, turned himself into authorities in Mobile, Alabama on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Renk is also wanted in Wasco County on allegations of sex crimes against a minor.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 9, 2024 — A man wanted on allegations of sex abuse in Wasco County turned himself into authorities in Mobile, Alabama on Tuesday, Oct. 9, according to a joint press release from the Wasco County District Attorney and Wasco County Sheriff’s Office.
Adam Renk, 39, who has ties to Oregon and to Wasco County in particular was denied bond this morning during a hearing in Alabama and remains in jail, Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis said.
By turning himself into the authorities, Renk ended a month-long nationwide manhunt that included state and federal law enforcement agencies
Renk stands, accused of multiple sex offenses in both Oregon and Alabama.
Renk was indicted on multiple sex crimes against a child victim, under the age of twelve in Wasco County on Sept. 5. Renk is charged with first-degree Unlawful Sexual Penetration, first-degree Sodomy, and first-degree Sex Abuse. All three charges are Measure 11 crimes and draw mandatory prison sentences of 100 months for the first two charges and 75 months for the latter.
These charges were ongoing in nature and began approximately in Antelope, Oregon in 2020, Ellis said.
Renk has also been charged with several sex crimes in Alabama against an eleven-year-old victim. The victims in the two states are unrelated, Ellis said.
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Several months ago, Renk posted bond in Alabama and had been released from pre-trial custody. He fled when he learned he may be possibly charged with further crimes.
At this time, the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office has a warrant for Renk’s arrest on the charges of Unlawful Sexual Penetration, Sodomy, and Sex Abuse. The District Attorney’s Office is currently working on obtaining a governor’s warrant. A governor’s warrant will ensure that Renk is transported back to Wasco County after the conclusion of his Alabama case. At this time, there is no time frame for disposition on the Alabama matter or Renk’s return to Wasco County.
Anyone with information about possible additional victims is asked to contact Detective Jeff Hall at the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580 or OSP Detective Cassie Bantz through dispatch at 800-442-0776 or by dialing *OSP (*677) on a mobile phone.
