I have seen a few SA items spawn on the ground near where the renowned dies. I killed the big pixie once and a pillar of strength spawned on the ground about 8 tiles from where it died. I also picked up a token of holy favor off the ground near where a renowned fire deamon died. I have looted a token of holy favor off a renowned fire elemental corpse, I have looted the beserkers breastplate from medusa's corpse.