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Eagle Point death probed as murder An Eagle Point man was found dead Thursday along an irrigation ditch northeast of town from what sheriff�s deputies say appears to be murder. Michael James Smith, 39, was reported missing by his father Wednesday, according to deputies. Smith was found dead along an irrigation ditch Thursday, killed by a gunshot wound to the chest. Smith was last seen June 20 when a friend dropped him off at his home at 1900 Derby Road, which is between Eagle Point and Butte Falls. An Eagle Point Irrigation District employee found Smith�s body Thursday morning along a ditch bank in the Derby Road area, two miles from Smith�s home. An autopsy Friday confirmed that Smith died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. "It appears to be the result of foul play," said Capt. Ed Mayer. Mayer said investigators are following several leads, but he declined to give any more information. "We have some people of interest but it�s premature to call them suspects," said Mayer. Investigators believe the homicide probably occurred at a different location and that Smith�s body was moved to the bank, said Mayer. There are also no estimates on when Smith died. "The body was at a fairly advanced state of decomposition, " said Mayer. The hot weather could be responsible for speeding up decomposition, he said. Deputies are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff�s department at 774-6800. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA