Charges not yet filed in case of Menifee boy whose body was found

Charges in the case of an 11-year-old Menifee boy whose body was found in a shallow grave will not be filed before Friday, the Riverside County district attorney’s office said.

The body was discovered Wednesday near a tree not far from the beige-and-brown home where the boy, Terry Smith, lived with his mother.

Officials still could not confirm Thursday the identity of a 16-year-old family member arrested after the body was found.

Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities said the name and relationship to the family had to remain private. Further details may be released if charges are filed.

Filing decisions likely will not be made before Friday, said John Hall, senior public information specialist for the Riverside County district attorney’s office.

The last person who reportedly saw Terry was his 16-year-old half-brother, who told police he told Terry to go home when he found his little brother following him as he walked to a local market.

The half-brother had previously been identified as Terry’s stepbrother, but the two have the same mother, authorities said Thursday.

Terry’s half-brother was reportedly in charge of taking care of him that night while his mother spent the evening out.

When Smith’s father, Terry Smith Sr., was reached by NBC4 at his home in West Virginia, he reportedly told the station his stepson had anger issues.

“It didn’t come as a surprise with his past,” he said, according to the station.

Smith appears to be raising funds online to return to California. A webpage has been created by a “Terry D Smith” with a message that reads: “My son was murdered in CA and i cant go out there to burry him and see him if he gets burried out there please help.” He has raised $220 so far, according to the page.

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Twitter: @emfoxhall

emily.foxhall@latimes.com