Superintendent found dead in farmer's pond

DIAMOND, Mo. -- The Diamond School District superintendent, missing since Halloween, has been found dead in a farmer's pond.

Greg Smith, 49, was found Sunday behind the wheel of a submerged car at the farm along Highway 59, north of Diamond, Newton County Sheriff Ron Doerge said.

Authorities did not know how Smith died. An autopsy was planned Monday in Springfield, Mo.

The death was being investigated both as an accident and as a potential crime.

The property owner called authorities Sunday after finding part of his fence down. Tire tracks led from the fence to the pond. Divers were called to find the vehicle in the deep pond.

Smith, who had been superintendent the past three years, disappeared on his way to work on Oct. 31. He had left his home around 5 a.m., planning to ride one or more school district bus routes. On the way to the school district bus barn, he apparently stopped at a Commerce Bank to withdraw $10 from an automated teller machine.