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Authorities have deemed a drowning July 17 in the Llano River on Town lake (pictured here) to be accidental. File photo -
Horseshoe Bay police are investigating the discovery of an elderly woman’s body found floating July 19 in Lake LBJ just off Lighthouse Drive, pictured here. Contributed
Game wardens and Horseshoe Bay police officials are investigating two fatalities which occurred within days of each other on Llano County waterways.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) investigators have determined an incident on the Llano River to be an "accidental drowning," while police continue to sift through clues connected to a body found floating in Lake LBJ in Horseshoe Bay.
On Lake LBJ
On Friday, July 17, Horseshoe Bay first responders answered a 9-1-1 call around I: 10 p.m. from residents in the 400 block of Lighthouse Drive regarding a body floating in the lake.
"Upon arrival, officers were directed to the vicinity of a boat dock," according to a press release by Horseshoe Bay police. "Officers observed an elderly female floating in the water. Horseshoe Bay police and fire personnel were able to pull the woman up onto the boat dock where EMS and fire personnel immediately began CPR and other life saving techniques but to no avail."
The victim was identified as 84-year-old Kirsten Detenbeck, who lived nearby on Lighthouse Drive
Llano County Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Bebe Rocha pronounced the victim dead on the scene and ordered an autopsy to be conducted by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Although the exact cause of the death is yet to be determined, nothing has been discovered to this point that tends to suggest foul play was involved,” the police statement read.
The outcome of the autopsy is pending.
On the Llano River
A second fatal waterway death followed two days later — this time approximately 45 minutes away on the Llano River.
According to TPWD officials, the incident occurred around 7:40 p.m. Sunday, July 19 in an area of the waterway, just off the shoreline of Badu Park.
Ramiro Renteria, 56, of Dallas was identified as the victim of an “accidental drowning,” said TPWD spokesman Cody Hatfield.
“Witnesses said (Renteria) attempted to swim out in the river. He got a short distance off the bank. His swimming partner saw him go under,” Hatfield said. “He didn’t resurface.”
The park is located within the city limits of Llano, several yards up river from the Texas 16 bridge.
“First responders arrived at the scene. Fire department swimmers entered the water and conducted a search. They didn’t have any luck,” Hatfield said. “At about 8:30 p.m., we launched a boat to use side scan sonar to locate the victim.”
The crew located the victim’s body at approximately 10:30 p.m. about 20 yards off the bank in about 10 feet of water.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by Llano County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Brian Alexander.