MEDFORD, Ore. (May, 1, 2026) — A Medford man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the 2025 stabbing death of another man in the parking lot of a Lowe’s store, the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office said.
Christopher Shane Boyce, 35, pleaded guilty Thursday and was sentenced by Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Kelly Ravassipour to an upward departure sentence of 15 years in the Oregon Department of Corrections. He was also ordered to serve three years of post-prison supervision.
The charges stemmed from the death of Rory Pomeroy, 36, during an early morning confrontation on April 25, 2025, in the Lowe’s parking lot at 3601 Crater Lake Highway.
According to prosecutors, Medford police were dispatched around 1:55 a.m. after receiving a report of an unconscious man in the parking lot. Officers found Pomeroy suffering from a head injury and also discovered a deceased dog at the scene.
Pomeroy was taken to a hospital for treatment but later died from his injuries.
Investigators obtained surveillance footage from the store that showed an altercation between Boyce and Pomeroy near where the victim was found. Prosecutors said the video showed the confrontation ending with Pomeroy clutching his head after an apparent blow, while Boyce walked away.
Authorities said Boyce appeared to discard an object into a nearby storm drain as he left. Because the footage was grainy and captured from a distance, police used a City of Medford truck to empty several nearby storm drains and searched the contents, eventually recovering the knife used in the stabbing.
Investigators also learned Boyce had earlier been contacted by Oregon State Police troopers after his dog was struck by passing traffic. Troopers later gave him a ride to the Lowe’s parking lot, prosecutors said.
During the investigation, Boyce told police that he and Pomeroy had been preparing to bury the dog. He said he placed a gold necklace chain on the animal and later believed it had been stolen. Boyce accused Pomeroy of taking the chain, leading to an argument.
Boyce told investigators Pomeroy became angry and came after him, prompting Boyce to use a knife in what he claimed was self-defense.
Law enforcement later found the necklace beneath the dog, not in Pomeroy’s possession.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Alyssa Claseman said the plea agreement was reached after consulting with the victim’s family and weighing the risks of trial, including the poor quality of the surveillance footage and the possibility that a self-defense claim could succeed.
At Thursday’s hearing, Pomeroy’s mother addressed the court, saying her son had been trying to make positive changes in his life and was a caring person who often helped others.
The case was prosecuted by Claseman and Deputy District Attorney Brannon Schwab.
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
