Positive ID of Terry Smith Jr's Body Confirmed by Coroner

The Riverside County Coroner's Office today confirmed the positive identification of 11-year-old Terry
Smith Jr., whose body was found buried in a shallow grave behind his family's house on July 10.

According to Sgt. Deborah Gray of the Coroner's Office, the identification was made using DNA from the boy's mother, Shawna Smith. The cause of death is not being released at this time because the investigation is ongoing, Gray said. Time of death is listed as the time the boy was pronounced dead upon discovery of his body. The actual estimated time of death also is not being released at this time.

At the request of the parents, the body will be released to the Lakepointe Cremation and Burial funeral home in Lake Elsinore, Funeral Arranger Veronica Bocanegra confirmed last week. Bocanegra did not return messages today and there has been no announcement made concerning custody of the body. The boy's father, Terry Smith Sr., lives in West Virginia but has been in Menifee since July 19.

Terry Smith Jr's half brother, 16-year-old Skylor Atilano, has been arrested on suspicion of the boy's murder. He is awaiting a Sept. 17 juvenile detention hearing as part of the process to determine whether he will be charged as a juvenile or an adult.

Terry's mother reported him missing on Sunday, July 7, resulting in a citywide search by hundreds of volunteers. The body was found three days later on the Smith property.