UPDATED: 16-Year-Old Family Member of Missing Boy Arrested on Suspicion of Murder

By: Maggie Avants, Renee Schiavone and Toni McAllister, with contributions from Daniel Lane

Update 4:07 p.m.:

A 16-year old family member of the missing Terry Dewayne Smith, 11, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, Menifee police Chief John Hill said during a news conference.

Earlier Wednesday, police removed human remains from a shallow grave on the property of the Helen Lane home where Terry lived with his mother, her partner, his sister and his half-brother.

The chief said though the remains have not been identified yet as Terry's, the remains fit the description of the boy.

Officials previously said Terry's half-brother is 16, but the chief declined Wednesday to divulge the name of the suspect. He would only say that is a family member.

Patch is working to provide further information.

Update 2:23 p.m.: 

Investigators remained on scene Wednesday afternoon at the Menifee home of an 11-year-old Terry Smith who allegedly went missing over the weekend.

Earlier in the afternoon, what are believed to be human remains were removed from the property in the 33000 block of Helen Lane following police activity that began in the wee hours of the morning.

Sheriff’s forensics investigators were previously seen digging near a tree about 45 feet from the single-story modular home.

Those who live at the home include Terry, his mother, sister and half-brother, a sheriff’s official previously told Patch.

A goat and other livestock sat idly by as investigators worked inside and outside the home, with crime tape still in place as of around 2 p.m.

Sheriff’s officials have not confirmed the remains as those of Terry, who also went by “Ju Ju” and “Junior.”

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Menifee police Chief John Hill is scheduled to give an update on the investigation into the boy’s disappearance.

Several hundred—if not thousands—of volunteers had been searching for Terry since news of his alleged disappearance surfaced. The search effort stretched to the neighboring communities of Murrieta, Wildomar and Winchester.

Sheriff’s officials as of Wednesday morning, however, had suspended their search efforts and were concentrating on the investigation on Helen Lane.

Volunteers stationed at a makeshift command post at the nearby Menifee Market were also slowing their efforts.

Instead, they were praying.

Update 1:05 p.m.: Evidence believed to be human remains has been removed from the backyard of the Menifee home in which an 11-year-old boy lived and who was reported missing over the weekend.
The activity took place just before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

According to a Patch reporter on the scene, investigators appeared to have been digging in a small area in the home's backyard, about 45 feet from the house located in the 33000 block of Helen Lane. Sheriff's forensics vehicles were parked on the property, and two sheriff's EasyUps were set up but at press time had been removed.

Police are expected to hold a press conference this afternoon, at which time it's expected more answers may become available.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of the boy went to the Menifee home shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, based on evidence to indicate there may be a body on the property, Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Albert Martinez said earlier today.

Update 10:53 a.m.

A search warrant is being served at the property from where 11-year-old Terry Smith reportedly went missing over the weekend, a sheriff's official said in an update just before 11 a.m. Wednesday.

The home is located on about an acre of property in the 33000 block of Helen Lane in Menifee; Helen Lane has been cordoned off with police tape since early Wednesday.

"Investigators are currently serving a search warrant at the property where Terry Smith resides," said Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Lisa McConnell, in a written statement. "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."

A small circle of neighbors, volunteers and friends—many of whom have been searching for the boy—stood near the scene Wednesday morning, praying.

“It’s very sad,” said Mary Brown, 65, who said she lives down the street from the home that was being searched by forensics investigators.

“We were praying for the family—to bring peace to everyone in regards to whatever happens,” Brown said. “It is in God’s hands, whatever the outcome is.”

Update 10:15 a.m.:  The sheriff's department says they are planning a press conference for this afternoon to provide updates on the search for Terry Smith.

"Currently we have investigators at a residence on Helen lane," Sgt. Lisa McConnell said in an emailed statement to the media, reiterating what Deputy Albert Martinez told Patch in the earlier updates of this story.  "They are processing the scene and attempting to determine whether human remains are on the property."

"We are working diligently and will be updating the public regarding our findings," she said.  "As I receive updates I will pass them on."

"Our searchers are on standby," she added.

Update 10 a.m.:  Police tell Patch that search efforts for a missing autistic boy from Menifee are currently suspended while they search a home for possible human remains.

"Yes they have," Deputy Albert Martinez said when asked whether investigators have suspended search efforts.

Original story published at 9 a.m.: 

Investigators are searching a missing autistic boy's house in Menifee for possible human remains, Patch has learned.

They are at a house on Helen Lane-- the same street from where 11-year-old Terry Smith went missing sometime after 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to sheriff's spokesman Deputy Albert Martinez.

"[Investigators] are trying to determine whether human remains are there," Martinez told Patch around 8:45 a.m., adding that investigators first arrived around 1:30 a.m.

"As far as whose those are, that's for the coroner's investigation," he said.

Martinez said he was not sure at this time if the investigators are inside Smith's home.  However, photos from the scene and the Los Angeles Times indicate that it may be the same house where the boy lives with his family, located in the 33000 block of Helen Lane.

On Monday, Martinez had told Patch foul play was not suspected, but that it had not been ruled out.

"They did process the house (Sunday) and didn’t find any clues as far as any type of foul play. But they are not ruling anything out and are talking to the family members," Martinez said at the time.

On Tuesday, a Menifee police car was stationed outside of the family home. The officer told Patch the family did not want to speak with anyone.

Patch has a reporter at the scene and will update this breaking news story as soon as more details become available.

Previous Coverage on the Search for Terry Smith:

• Have You Seen This Boy? He is at Risk
• Hundreds of Volunteers Fan Out in Search for Missing Autistic Boy in Menifee
• Volunteers, Authorities Searching Through the Night for Missing Menifee Boy
• VIDEO: No Leads In Case Of Missing Autistic Boy, Police Chief Says