Officials: No decision yet on charges in campground death

Malheur County is still awaiting the results of a medical examiner’s report on an Orofino man who died at an Oregon campground earlier this month.

Malheur County Sheriff Brian Wolfe said Friday he is not sure whether criminal charges will be filed in connection with the death of Michael Reitler, 65, of Orofino.

When asked whether he believes Reitler died from a gunshot wound, Wolfe said, “I’m pretty sure he didn’t.”

Wolfe said he could not speculate further on the incident.

Once the medical examiner’s report is received, it likely will be forwarded to Dave Goldthorpe, the county’s district attorney. Goldthorpe will then decide whether to present the case to a grand jury, which will determine whether criminal charges will be filed.

The sheriff’s office received a call near midnight July 10 about an altercation between Reitler and some people camped near him about a mile upstream from Snively Hot Springs below the Owyhee dam on the Snake River.

Wolfe said the report was that Reitler appeared at a camp in possession of a firearm and a struggle took place between Reitler and a 20-year-old man.

During the struggle, a gun reportedly was discharged.

Wolfe said the 20-year-old man, whom he is not naming, reportedly was able to gain control of the firearm. He and a woman with him and her three children then flagged down a passerby and got a ride out of the area.

Wolfe said there was no cellphone service at the campground, but as soon as the people were in range, they made a 911 phone call to the sheriff’s office.

The 20-year-old man was interviewed and told investigators he believed Reitler had been knocked unconscious and was still at the scene.

But when officers arrived at the campground, they found Reitler was dead.

Reitler’s body was taken to Portland, where an autopsy was performed by the Oregon medical examiner.