Public memorial service planned for slain Menifee boy

The father of an 11-year-old Menifee boy whose remainswere discovered in the backyard of his mother’s house — where his older half-brother allegedly buried him after killing him — will hold a public memorialservice Thursday for those who turned out “to search for and honor his son.”

“He just wants to thank the community,” Michelle Page, a spokeswomanfor Terry Smith Sr., told City News Service. “Terry Jr.’s mom held a privateservice, and a lot of people who put their heart and soul into trying to findthis little boy are pretty angry about that. Terry Senior wants to thank allthe volunteers who did right by his son and perhaps give them a littleclosure.”

According to Page, the 62-year-old Smith had to sell his only car tofund the trip from his native West Virginia to Southern California.

“It’s been very difficult for him to get out here,” she told CNS. “Hearrived with very little clothing or means of support. We’ve collecteddonations to put him up in a motel and buy him some clothes.”

Page said the grieving father is not on good terms with Terry Jr.’smother, Shawna, and the two have ceased communicating altogether since hisson’s body was discovered.

Smith was not in favor of a private memorial service, which his ex-wifeheld on Saturday in Menifee.

The pair have been twice married and divorced — the last time in 2005.

With the help of Page and others, Smith organized a public memorialservice, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Lamb’s Fellowship, 21901Railroad Canyon Road, Lake Elsinore. Anyone can attend. The facility has chairsfor 600, but attendees will be welcome to provide their own ad hoc seatingarrangements at the outdoor facility, which has space to accommodate 2,000.

“This is to thank people who came out to search for and honor hisson,” said Page, who took part in the three-day effort to locate the 11-year-old.

The boy’s mother contacted Riverside County sheriff’s deputies on July 7to report him missing. His 16-year-old half-brother, Skylor Atilano,initially told investigators that he had last seen Terry Jr. playing videogames in his bedroom. However, two days later, the teenager changed his story,saying he had spotted his brother following him to a nearby market and directedhim to return home.

Over the ensuing days, a phalanx of volunteers fanned out across thecountryside to look for the boy. Searchers covered a 55-square-mile area,enduring triple-digit heat and wading through thick brush inhabited by snakes,calling for Terry Jr., whose mother described him as autistic with the mentalcapacity of a 7-year-old — a claim disputed by his father.

Shortly after midnight on July 10, volunteers walking about 75 feetbehind the family home in the 33000 block of Helen Lane stumbled upon a shallowgrave under a tree and spotted partially exposed human remains that were laterconfirmed to be Terry Jr.’s.

Atilano was arrested and charged with murder. He is being held atSouthwest Juvenile Hall in Murrieta and is scheduled to make his next courtappearance on Sept. 17. Prosecutors intend to request that he be tried as anadult.

“This was a domestic issue within that residence,” sheriff’s Capt.John Hill said after the teen’s arrest. “There was no stranger in the city ofMenifee who caused this to happen.”

According to Page, Smith Sr. had full custody of his son but agreed tolet him stay with his mother in Menifee three years ago after suffering heartfailure and undergoing two major surgeries in West Virginia.

“He had a limited income and was really ill,” Page told CNS. “Hereached an understanding with Shawna. He never believed something like thiswould happen.”

Smith Sr. has adamantly denied that his youngest child — he has nineliving children from other marriages — was autistic and alleges that his ex-wife made the claim to gain sympathy and perhaps obtain financial assistance.

“I have an autistic child myself,” said Page, a mother of four. “Youcan get help from the state because autism is considered a disability.”

The Riverside County Coroner’s Office has control of the child’s remainsfor investigative purposes, but as soon as they are released, he will becremated, according to Page.