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Half-brother of Terry Smith arrested for murder; partially buried remains found by citizen volunteer

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MENIFEE - The 16-year-old half-brother of an autistic 11-year-old boy who disappeared over the weekend was in custody this morning on suspicion of murder in the death of the child, who was allegedly hit in the head with a rock, then buried in a shallow grave behind his home in Menifee. It was a citizen volunteer who found the remains.

Because of his age, Riverside County sheriff's officials did not release the name of the suspect, who was arrested Wednesday following an interview with detectives at the sheriff's Menifee station.

''This was a domestic issue within that residence,'' according to Riverside County sheriff's Capt. John Hill, who serves as Menifee's chief of police. ''There was no stranger in the city of Menifee who caused this to happen.''

Hill confirmed that human remains found early Wednesday in a partially dug grave ''fit the description of Terry Smith,'' although a positive identification had not yet been made.

A man identified as Terry Smith's father told KCAL9 that authorities believe the slain boy met a violent end.

''From what I heard it's put down as a domestic because he hit him in the head with a rock,'' Terry Smith Sr., who lives in West Virginia, told the station.

The 11-year-old was last seen Saturday night and had become the focus of a large-scale search effort covering 55 square miles and involving both volunteers and law enforcement personnel from several agencies. Menifee Mayor Scott Mann said that based on Wednesday's developments, the search had been ''suspended indefinitely.''

According to authorities, volunteers helping scour the countryside stumbled upon a shallow grave containing partially exposed human remains about 75 feet behind the Smith home in the 33000 block of Helen Lane and notified deputies before 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Hill acknowledged that ''multiple searches of the property'' had taken place previously without turning up any clues.

''Sometimes it takes a while to put all the puzzle pieces together in circumstances like this,'' the police chief said.

According to reports from the scene, Terry Smith's half-brother initially told investigators he had last seen the boy playing video games in the house Saturday night, but he recently changed his story, saying the youngster had tried to follow him to a nearby corner market after dark, prompting the older youth to order him back home.

After the discovery of the remains, all members of the household were whisked away to the sheriff's station for questioning. The boy's mother was eventually released, according to broadcast reports.

Terry Smith's father told KCAL9 that, from the beginning, he felt the circumstances under which his son disappeared were ''fishy.'' He also said his son was not autistic and accused the boy's mother of trying to have the child diagnosed with the disorder so she could collect government benefits.

One of the boy's teachers also told reporters that Terry Smith was not autistic.

''The outpouring of love and support from the people of Menifee and our neighbors has been overwhelming,'' Mann said. ''Volunteers worked round the clock, looking for Terry. The world tuned into this community for the last four days. I commend the men and women involved in this search.''

Hundreds of people held a prayer vigil Wednesday evening at a marketplace around the corner from the Smith residence.

''We came out here to find a little boy,'' Menifee resident Pam Ragland told a local television station. ''I was really hoping it wasn't him (found buried), that it was a mistake.''

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000, or sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776-1099.

The following agencies assisted the Riverside Sheriff's Department/Menifee Police Department with the search for Terry Smith:

Federal Bureau of Investigation

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

California Office of Emergency Services - Chief Dennis Beene

Riverside County Fire-Office of Emergency Services

Cal Fire-Riverside County Fire Department

Riverside County District Attorney's Office

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

Orange County Sheriff's Department

San Diego County Sheriff's Department

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Anaheim Police Department Irvine Police Department

Garden Grove Police Department

Long Beach Police Department, Search and Rescue

Sierra Madre Search and Rescue

Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit

Desert Sheriff's Search and Rescue

Riverside County Disaster Corps

Riverside County Sheriff's Posse

Citizen Emergency Response Teams from Menifee, Moreno Valley, Canyon Lake, Wildomar, Riverside, Temecula, and the Pass Area

Riverside Amateur Civil Emergency Services (R.A.C.E.S.)

Lake Elsinore, Perris, and Menifee Explorers

City of Menifee

The 16-year-old brother of Terry Smith, an 11-year-old autistic boy missing from his Menifee home since Saturday has been arrested, according to sheriff's officials.

Human remains found near the family's home early this morning have not been positively identified as those of the missing boy, but a sheriff's official says the body generally matches the boy's description.

STATEMENT FROM THE SHERIFF's DEPARTMENT -

Investigators are currently serving a search warrant at the property where Terry Smith resides. Investigators have located possible human remains on the property and are currently trying to determine if, in fact, the remains are human. The investigators are actively processing the scene.

MENIFEE- Human remains have been found on the property from which an 11-year-old autistic boy disappeared Saturday night, it was reported today.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Terry Smith went to a home on Helen Lane shortly after 1 a.m. today, based on evidence to indicate there may be a body on the property, according to Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Albert Martinez.

A couple of hours later, yellow crime scene tape went up around the property, and news reports from the scene quoted sheriff's officials as saying that, while volunteers again would go out today to look for the boy, sheriff's personnel would not.

The boy disappeared Saturday night from his family home in the 33000 block of Helen Lane in Menifee. According to relatives, the boy, who has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old, was last seen around 7:30 that evening. He was reportedly being babysat by a 16-year-old step-brother.

Since then, massive search operations have taken place, with more than 700 people fanning out and looking for Terry at one time, wading through snake- infested scrub in the midday heat, shouting his name.

''The strength and fabric of a community are never tested until an event such as this occurs,'' Menifee Mayor Scott Mann told reporters Tuesday. ''We have volunteers from all quarters of the city -- neighbors, ranchers, members of our church family -- people from all walks of life, who have come out in overwhelming support of this search.''

Riverside County sheriff's Capt. John Hill, who serves as the Menifee police chief, said multiple agencies are taking part in the canvass, including the Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino County sheriff's departments, police Explorer units, Cal Fire and personnel from the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services.

Search coordinator Bill Gillette told ABC7 on Tuesday that the search has taken on additional urgency because of the length of time Terry has been missing.

Hill said law enforcement is focused on a 55-square-mile area around the child's home.

''Terry's whereabouts and the circumstances under which he disappeared are unknown,'' the sheriff's captain said Tuesday, before reports of human remains on the Helem lane property. ''We're doing everything possible to return him to his family.''

Hill was asked if Terry might have been abducted.

''That's always a possibility,'' he replied. ''We're looking at all possibilities.''

Terry is 4 feet 8 and 76 pounds, with blue eyes and dirty blonde hair, last seen wearing light blue basketball shorts and ankle socks.

Anyone with information about the boy or his disappearance was urged to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000, or sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776-1099.

UPDATE: Police Call Off Their Official Search for 11-Year-Old Terry Smith

Menifee - Law enforcement has officially called off their search for missing 11-year-old Autistic Terry Smith today, July 10. Law enforcement have started to concentrate their search at the child's home off of the 33000 Helen Lane in Menifee. The area has been deemed a crime scene and police have reason to believe that there are human remains on the property.

Smith was first reported missing on Sunday when Riverside County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched at 10:33 a.m. where they were told that Smith went missing around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Lisa McConnell.

Search for Missing Menifee Boy Enters Fifth Day

MENIFEE - Amid a deepening sense of urgency and with officials unable to rule out kidnapping, volunteers and law enforcement personnel were gearing up today to continue scouring the Menifee area and points beyond in hopes of finding an autistic 11-year-old boy missing since Saturday night.

''We pledge to continue this search effort until such time that circumstances dictate otherwise,'' Menifee Mayor Scott Mann told reporters Tuesday. ''We will maintain our vigilance and continue searching. We will find Terry.''

Terry Dewayne Smith disappeared Saturday night from his family home in the 33000 block of Helen Lane in Menifee. According to relatives, the boy, who has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old, was last seen around 7:30 that evening.

Since then, massive search operations have taken place, with more than 700 people fanning out and looking for Terry at one time, wading through snake- infested scrub in the midday heat, shouting his name.

''The strength and fabric of a community are never tested until an event such as this occurs,'' Mann said. ''We have volunteers from all quarters of the city -- neighbors, ranchers, members of our church family -- people from all walks of life, who have come out in overwhelming support of this search.''

Riverside County sheriff's Capt. John Hill, who serves as the Menifee police chief, said multiple agencies are taking part in the canvass, including the Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino County sheriff's departments, police Explorer units, Cal Fire and personnel from the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services.

Search coordinator Bill Gillette told ABC7 on Tuesday that the search has taken on additional urgency because of the length of time Terry has been missing.

Hill said law enforcement is focused on a 55-square-mile area around the child's home.

''Terry's whereabouts and the circumstances under which he disappeared are unknown,'' the sheriff's captain said. ''We're doing everything possible to return him to his family.''

Hill was asked if Terry might have been abducted.

''That's always a possibility,'' he replied. ''We're looking at all possibilities.''

Terry is 4 feet 8 and 76 pounds, with blue eyes and dirty blonde hair, last seen wearing light blue basketball shorts and ankle socks.

Anyone with information about the boy or his disappearance was urged to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000, or sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776-1099.

UPDATE: Search for Missing Menifee Boy Continues

MENIFEE - Night 4 of the search for missing 11-year-old continues. Law enforcement asked that volunteers cancel their on foot search for tonight.

Volunteer searchers and other residents of Menifee and its surrounding areas have continued to gather at Menifee Market and make posters, pray, and be together. Volunteers continue to canvas the area canvasing in cars and getting flyers in surrounding areas.

Volunteers are encouraged to meet up at 8 am at the Menifee Market, Wednesday morning.

Anyone with information about the boy is urged to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000, or sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776-1099.

MENIFEE - Hundreds of people fanned out in triple-digit heat to search for an 11-year-old special-needs boy who went missing over the weekend in Menifee.

''We pledge to continue this search effort until such time that circumstances dictate otherwise,'' said Menifee Mayor Scott Mann during a news briefing. ''We will maintain our vigilance and continue searching. We will find Terry.''

Terry Dewayne Smith disappeared Saturday night from his family home in the 33000 block of Helen Lane.

According to relatives, the autistic youth, who has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old, was last seen around 7:30 that evening.

The search effort has involved more than 700 people, some of whom have combed through snake-infested scrub in the midday heat as they shouted out the boy's name.

''The strength and fabric of a community are never tested until an event such as this occurs,'' Mann said. ''We have volunteers from all quarters of the city -- neighbors, ranchers, members of our church family -- people from all walks of life, who have come out in overwhelming support of this search.''

Riverside County sheriff's Capt. John Hill, who serves as the Menifee police chief, told reporters that multiple agencies are taking part in the canvass, including the Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Departments, police Explorer units, Cal Fire and personnel from the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services.

Hill said law enforcement is focused on a 55-square-mile area around the child's home.

''Terry's whereabouts and the circumstances under which he disappeared are unknown,'' the sheriff's captain said.

''We're doing everything possible to return him to his family.''

When asked whether he thought Terry might have been abducted, Hill replied ''That's always a possibility.''

''We're looking at all possibilities,'' he said.

Terry is 4 feet 8 and weighs 76 pounds. He has blue eyes, dirty blond hair and was wearing light-blue basketball shorts and ankle socks.

Anyone with information about the boy was urged to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000, or sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776-1099.

Authorities say there is still no sign this morning of the 11-year-old autistic boy who went missing from his Menifee home.


MENIFEE - It was night three in the search for missing Menifee Austistic eleven-year-old, Terry Dewayne Smith where over 250 volunteer searchers relentlessly scoured Menifee and its surrounding areas into the late hours of the night. Smith was last seen Saturday evening at his home in the 33000 block of Helen Lane, in a rural area off Scott Road about two miles west of Interstate 215.

The search for Smith came up empty once again but family, friends, and the community of Menifee are not giving up hope in finding him. Throughout the day, volunteers have posted and handed out flyers with Smith’s recent picture and description and searched on foot throughout the area hoping to find some trace of Smith and his whereabouts and tirelessly battled triple digit temperatures.

There have been several potential sightings of Smith within the area, with the most recent being near Loma Linda Hospital in Murrieta. Within minutes of reporting of this sighting, volunteer rescuers got in their cars and rushed to the scene but it turned out to be a false lead.

There are also official crews of Deputies and Menifee explorers actively searching the area. At this point in the investigation, deputies do not suspect any foul play, but they are not ruling it out entirely.

Bill Gilette, a Menifee resident who has been assisting and coordinating the civilian search efforts, was not only concerned about Smith and his whereabouts, but was also concerned about the volunteers and encouraged them to stay within sight, staying out of fields and open spaces due to injury or snakes, or other various animals. Gilette also encourages anyone who wants to participate in the search for Smith to come to the Menifee Market on Tuesday, June 9 beginning at 7 am, to help comb through the surrounding areas.

Finding Smith is of the utmost importance for search crews, official and volunteer, will not waiver until he is found.

For more information on joining the search or donating food and water for the volunteer searchers visit the Menifee Market located at 26035 Scott Road, Menifee, CA. Anyone who spots Terry or knows his whereabouts is urged to call the sheriff’s Perris station at (951) 210-1000 or sheriff’s dispatch at (951) 776-1099.


Hundreds of Volunteers from Menifee Help Local Law Enforcement in Search for Missing 11-Year-Old, Terry Smith

MENIFEE - “Help me find my baby – he’s still missing! It’s been too long. He’s my baby boy who is afraid of the dark and must be scared out of his mind! Please help!” were the words of Shawna Smith, Terry’s mom, as she spoke with citizens of Menifee and the surrounding areas who have volunteered to help find Terry.

Terry is an eleven-year-old Autistic boy that has been missing since Saturday night when he followed his older brother, 16-year-old, Skylor Atliano on a walk to Atliano’s friend’s house off of Haun Road. Immediately, when Atliano realized his brother was following him he told Terry that he needed to go back home and Atliano walked him back to their street not knowing that he wouldn’t make it back safely inside.

Shawna reported Terry missing late Sunday morning reporting that he was last seen wearing blue jean shorts, no shirt or shoes and was last seen Saturday evening around 9 p.m. walking south on Daly Road.

Tom Fuhrman, City of Menifee Councilman, has helped coordinate the search for Terry since Sunday, July 7 and has been back and forth between the Sheriff Command Post at the Fire Station and the Civilian Post, located at Menifee Market, 26035 Scott Road. “The Sheriffs and six mounted horseman are concentrating their search west of Murrieta Road and volunteers are focusing their search on the east side of Scott Road,” Fuhrman said.

Bill Gilette, Menifee resident, has stepped up and volunteered to assist Councilman Fuhrman by coordinating the civilian search efforts and feels that Terry is “within a mile of his home” located on Helen Road off of Murrieta Road. Gilette has advised volunteer searchers to look in open fields, abandoned cars and trucks, under trees in shaded areas, etc. “As far as we know Terry has not had any food or drink since Saturday evening and must be severely dehydrated and extremely scared,” Gilette said to the volunteers. The temperature in Menifee will be over 100 degrees and finding Terry is at the top of the list.

Volunteers have donated water and food to keep the search parties hydrated and fed. If you are interested in donating food and water for the searchers or interested in joining the search, please drop off items at or visit Menifee Market located at 26035 Scott Road, Menifee, CA. Anyone who spots Terry or knows his whereabouts is urged to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000 or sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776- 1099.

MENIFEE - Friends and relatives were searching through the night early today for an 11-year-old autistic boy who went missing from his Menifee home.

Riverside County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched at 10:33 a.m. Sunday to a home in the 33000 block of Helen Lane, where they were told that Terry Dewayne Smith went missing around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Lisa McConnell. Deputies searched for Terry but couldn't find him in the area, even with a bloodhound, McConnell said.

Terry is 4 feet 8, 76 pounds and has blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing blue basketball shorts. Anyone who spots Terry or knows his whereabouts is urged to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000 or sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776- 1099. 11-year-old autistic boy missing from Menifee

MENIFEE - Sheriff's officials are searching for an 11-year-old autistic boy who went missing overnight from his Menifee home, a sergeant said today.

Sheriff's deputies were dispatched at 10:33 a.m. today to a home in the 33000 block of Helen Lane. They learned that Terry Dewayne Smith went missing on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., according to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Lisa McConnell.

Deputies searched for Terry but couldn't find him in the area, even with a bloodhound, McConnell said. Terry is 4 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 76 lbs. and has blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing blue basketball shorts. Deputies urge anyone who has seen Terry or knows about his whereabouts to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000 or sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776-1099.

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