Crime & Safety
Identification On Boy's Remains Could Take Several More Weeks
The coroner's office is currently waiting on dental records out of West Virginia.
The following was reported by Toni McAllister:
The remains of a juvenile male discovered in Menifee last week could take several more weeks to identify, a sergeant with the Riverside County Coroner's Office said Tuesday.
Remains found July 10 in the back yard of the home of 11-year-old Terry "JuJu" Smith Jr. are believed to be those of the boy, who was reported missing days earlier.
Sgt. Brent Sechrest of the coroner's office said Tuesday that a delay in confirming the ID is because the remains are those of a juvenile. Identifying records such as fingerprints are not available on minors, unless there is a criminal record, he explained.
"We are waiting on dental records from West Virginia," Sechrest continued. "If we get those, we should have something to release ... maybe next week."
If the dental records don't pan out, Sechrest said DNA will be used to make a positive ID.
"DNA can take six to 10 weeks," he added.
Police believe the remains found at the Helen Lane home are those of Terry Smith Jr., and they have a suspect in custody. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office has filed a murder charge against Skylor Atilano, 16.
The teen appeared in court Monday afternoon at Southwest Detention Center for a detention hearing, but the hearing was postponed to Sept. 17. Click here for more on that story.
Skylor is Terry's half brother, and the two lived at the Helen Way home with their mother, her female partner and a female juvenile.
Terry Smith Sr., the slain boy's father, lives in Charleston, West Virginia, and he told Patch he has legal custody of Terry Jr. Click here for more on that story.
It has yet to be determined whether Skylor will be tried as an adult in the case.
A cause of death on the remains found July 10 is not being released by the coroner's office.
More coverage on the Terry Smith case:
- Woman’s ‘Intuition’ Helps Find Missing Boy’s Body
- Community Mourns Menifee Boy's Killing While Awaiting Coroner's Confirmation
- Search Ends For Missing Menifee Boy, But Community's United Effort Not In Vain
- Have You Seen This Boy? He is at Risk
- Missing Autistic Boy in Menifee
- Police Still Searching For Missing Autistic Boy
- Hundreds of Volunteers Fan Out in Search for Missing Autistic Boy in Menifee
- 'Find Terry Smith' Facebook Page Established, Volunteers Continue Search For Missing Boy
- Still No Sign Of Missing Autistic Boy, Search Continues
- Search For Missing Autistic Boy Intensifies
- Volunteers, Authorities Searching Through the Night for Missing Menifee Boy
- VIDEO: No Leads In Case Of Missing Autistic Boy, Police Chief Says
- UPDATED: Police Uncover Possible Human Remains At Missing Autistic Boy's Home
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