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Murder suspect, victim disagreed Witnesses describe �bad feelings� between two Eagle Point men By Joanna Collins EAGLE POINT � A man charged with murdering his neighbor had a long-standing dispute with the victim, authorities say. Investigators learned from people who knew both men that Michael Smith and Robert Turner had "bad feelings" toward each other, said Sgt. Rich Fogarty of the sheriff�s department. Fogarty declined to give details about the dispute. "From what we understood people who knew the victim thought the dispute was over," said Fogarty. An arrest warrant charging Turner with murder was issued Friday after an irrigation worker found Smith�s body in a ditch two miles from their homes on Derby Road Thursday. Smith died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Turner left town June 24 or 25, Fogarty said, and was last seen Friday morning by his sister in Los Angeles County. She told police she didn�t know anything about the case and that Turner left her home walking with a sleeping bag and backpack. Fogarty said Turner and a sheriff�s deputy had a phone conversation about Smith on June 13. Turner told the officer Smith and some of his friends were harassing him June 12, and he wanted advice, Fogarty said. According to Jackson County court records, Turner has a history of mental illness and abusiveness. Turner was due in court on a traffic violation the same day the warrant was issued. The warrant for Turner�s arrest was issued after investigators learned about the men�s dispute, Fogarty said. Physical evidence implicating Turner in the murder was also gathered, he said. He declined to say what the evidence was. Smith was last seen June 20 when a friend dropped him off at his home at 1900 Derby Road. His father reported him missing June 28, the day before his body was found on the bank of an irrigation ditch. Fogarty said he believes Smith was murdered between June 20 and 25. Anyone with information about the case can contact Fogarty or Detective Dan Hobbs 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