Greg Smith, 69, was found dead on July 31, 2025, in a ditch behind a property off Billy’s Creek Drive near Ortiz Avenue in Fort Myers. Deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office cordoned off the house and the area; crime scene vans and a mobile command center were on site while investigators processed the scene through the night. Officials classified the death as a homicide.

Family told reporters that Smith had been renting a small trailer in the backyard from the homeowner and that around lunchtime a young man shot him and left him in the ditch. Neighbors said they heard noises they at first thought were fireworks, which they later realized were gunshots. Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect, and no arrest had been confirmed in initial reports; detectives continued to interview witnesses and ask the public for tips.

If anyone saw activity around the backyard trailer or heard anything unusual near Billy’s Creek Drive around midday on July 31, please contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers with information.