Half-brother charged with murder of Menifee boy who had been missing

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Community members hold candles after a vigil for 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith, whose body was believed to have been found after an extensive search. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Community members gather after a candlelight vigil in front of the Menifee Market for 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Friends, volunteers and community residents attend a candlelight vigil for Terry Dewayne Smith, 11, in front of the Menifee Market on Wednesday. Remains found Wednesday were believed to be those of the missing boy. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Search volunteers Ember Bridwell, left, with daughter Jaden Morrell, 9; Crystal Monk with daughter Sarah, 10; and Donny Moffitt with girlfriend Victoria Hammond attend a candlelight vigil for 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith in front of the Menifee Market on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A Riverside County sheriff’s investigator bags evidence at the Menifee home of 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Search volunteers Kathy Jablecki, right, her daughter, Stacy Jablecki, left, and Tyler True (not seen) hug one another outside the Menifee home of Terry Dewayne Smith, the 11-year-old autistic boy missing since last weekend. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Riverside County sheriff’s investigators walk up the driveway of the Menifee home of 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith searching for evidence into his disappearance. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The Menifee home of Terry Dewayne Smith, an 11-year-old autistic boy missing since last weekend. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Riverside County sheriff’s investigators look for signs of 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith at his Menifee home. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Becca Smith, the mother of Terry Dewayne Smith, is surrounded by friends and neighbors during a prayer session at the volunteer center in Menifee. Terry Dewayne Smith, an 11-year-old autistic boy remains missing, despite the efforts of more than 100 volunteers and emergency workers who combed the hills of Menifee looking for the child. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

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Volunteers gather before the start of a prayer session for Terry Dewayne Smith. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

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Ashley Cathers hands out fliers on Scott Road in Menifee as the search continues for Terry Dewayne Smith. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

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Fliers are passed out in the search for Terry Dewayne Smith. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

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Volunteers pray for the safety of the lost boy as the search continues for Terry Dewayne Smith. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

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Bill Gillette signs in as scores of volunteers lined up Tuesday morning to join the search for 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith, who was last seen Saturday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Volunteers wait in line to sign up for the search Tuesday morning. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Tony Richuisa, left, Ciera West, Christina West and Brooke West search for Terry Dewayne Smith in Menifee. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Debi Velivis holds a sign at the intersection of Bundy Canyon Road and Murrieta Road with information about missing 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Debi Velivis holds a sign by the side of the road asking passersby to help find Terry Dewayne Smith. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Molly Jenks searches on horseback for missing 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Volunteers ventured out under blazing sun to look for missing 11-year-old Terry Dewayne Smith. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A group of volunteers searches an area near Terry Dewayne Smith’s Menifee home. The effort to find the missing boy has included search dogs, helicopters and dozens of volunteers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Volunteers search rural areas of Menifee on Tuesday for Terry Dewayne Smith. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

By Emily Foxhall

July 12, 2013 12:13 PM PT

The 16-year-old half-brother of the Menifee boy who went missing last weekend has been charged with murder, authorities said.

The boy was arrested Wednesday after authorities found the remains of Terry Smith Jr., 11, in a shallow grave near the family’s home.

Riverside County prosecutors said they will ask a juvenile court judge to determine whether the teen should be tried as an adult.

Some family members Thursday expressed disbelief at the developing news.

“The boys didn’t even disagree,” said Paula Smith, Terry’s aunt. “Other than the normal ‘leave me alone,’ the normal kid stuff, there was no violence ever,” she said. “It wasn’t allowed over there, so I don’t understand this at all.”

Terry Smith Sr., a retired truck driver who lives in West Virginia, said his ex-wife called him Sunday to ask if he was in California. He said he had been waiting for her to call and tell him when his son -- nicknamed “Juju” -- had finished school for the summer, so he could send a plane ticket for him to come to West Virginia.

Instead, she told him their son was missing.

More than 1,000 people, including people representing more than 20 California organizations, helped search for the lost 11-year-old boy in the following days.

His body was found early Wednesday morning by a female volunteer whose children spotted the human remains.

The 16-year-old suspect had just completed his sophomore year at Paloma Valley High School, said Jonathan Greenberg, superintendent of the Perris Union High School District.

In his Facebook profile picture, the boy stares contemplatively from beneath dark brown-black hair that sweeps across his forehead and nearly touches his shoulders. Two black studs pierce the skin just beneath either side of his lower lip, and a round, silver nose-ring hangs from his nose.

In the days leading up to his arrest, he posted several status updates on Facebook. One mentions insomnia and another being “Single officially.”

Friends commented online about whether he may be guilty, and whether his mom was involved.

One wrote, “i never heard anything bad about him only good. and i highly doubt anyone would do this to their own sibling.”

Cierra Hess, who lives in Moreno Valley, told The Times she first met the boy through Facebook and that they soon began Skyping every night.

On the murder accusations, she said, he “wouldn’t have ever done that.”

Hess, 16, described him as a “caring, loving compassionate” person. According to Hess, he was upset about his brother being missing.

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Twitter: @emfoxhall

emily.foxhall@latimes.com