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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 19, 2006 Hypothermia caused homeless man’s death A man found dead inside a compartment of a specialty trailer Thursday at a sales lot on Crater Lake Avenue died of hypothermia, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s department. Dr. James Olsen, a deputy state medical examiner, determined the cause of death after an autopsy performed late Friday, sheriff’s Detective Colin Fagan said. The body of Michael L. Bitner, 51, of La Center, Wash., was discovered about 5 p.m. Thursday by a salesman and customer at Hardcastle’s, a trailer retailer at 6270 Crater Lake Ave., north of Medford. Several customers had looked at the trailer, but Bitner’s body wasn’t discovered until one potential buyer asked if an extra generator would fit in the exterior cabinet. The salesman popped open the door to show him the space and found the body inside, Fagan said. The trailer combined a car-hauling unit and a fifth-wheel recreational vehicle. It had been for sale on consignment at Mankins Motorsports, 807 S. Central Ave., Medford, for six months until the owner had it moved to Hardcastle’s Feb. 10, Fagan said. Fagan said the owner of Mankins Motorsports told investigators he regularly shoos homeless people off his lot. Investigators haven’t determined when or where Bitner climbed into the storage compartment, but suspect he wanted a protected place to rest. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement