Man convicted of sex assault who disappeared during trial found dead in jail cell

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — A man who was in the Lincoln County Detention Center awaiting sentencing died by hanging himself, authorities said on Friday morning.

Randy Lee Rinck, Sr. was convicted of sexual assault days after he failed to return to court during his trial last month.

Rinck, 61, was found by detention center workers around 11:30 p.m. Thursday while they were collecting laundry from prisoners. Officials said Rinck was unresponsive when they got to his cell. Paramedics responded but could not save him.

Rinck was arrested on Sept. 28 in Richmond County after he failed to return to Lincoln County Superior Court after the first day of his trial. He was returned to Lincoln County the same day.

Deputies had been searching for Rinck since he didn’t show up for trial on Sept. 22. at the Lincoln County courthouse. He was on trial for several charges including sexual assault connected to an incident that happened in February.

Deputies said they responded to Barsdale Lane on Feb. 15 after a woman ran to a home and asked a resident to call 911 because she was being held against her will.

She told deputies that she had gone to Rinck’s home that Saturday to visit. While they were together, she said they went riding around and Rinck started drinking alcohol and assaulting her. When they got back to his home, the victim said he threatened her with a knife and wouldn’t let her leave.

The woman told deputies that Rinck continued to assault her during the weekend, leaving her with two black eyes and small cuts on her body. Authorities said he also sexually assaulted the victim.

Officials said Rinck was out on bond during his trial.

The woman he is convicted of sexually assaulting was one of the first witnesses on the stand, along with EMS who arrived to help her. According to court records, prosecutors also introduced the 911 call.

Rinck then didn’t show up on Wednesday.

“At the end of the day, we broke and he didn’t show up Wednesday morning for court,” said Det. Jerry Talbot with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said they stopped for a few hours to search for him, then continued with the trial. A jury convicted Rinck that Friday. He was found guilty of second-degree forcible sexual offense and assault with a deadly weapon.

“He is looking at some serious time. People who are afraid tend to do crazy things,” Talbot said.

Officials had to delay sentencing until they found Rinck.

(WATCH BELOW: Sexual assault victim says law failed to protect her)

Sexual assault victim says law failed to protect her

©2021 Cox Media Group