Volunteers Who Searched for Slain Menifee Boy Grieve In Lake Elsinore

Eleven-year-old Terry “JuJu” Smith Jr.loved the outdoors, he liked rocks to put in his pocket or to climb on, trees and picnics.

Which is why, The Lamb's Fellowship of Lake Elsinore Senior Pastor Gary Enniss said, the outdoor amphitheater at the church was the perfect location to hold a public memorial service for the boy so that his father, Terry Smith Sr., could thank the hundreds of volunteers who helped search for the boy.

“It is very appropriate we are holding this service in this place,” Enniss told the crowd of a few hundred who sat in groups Thursday evening on the grassy ledges of the venue.

“There’s outdoors, there are rocks and it almost looks like we could be having a picnic...Just being outside in nature is peaceful,” the pastor said, before he invited Smith Sr. to the stage to give his remarks.

Smith Sr., a West Virginia resident, explained that he pawned his car in order to purchase a plane ticket to fly to California, with the goal of retrieving his son’s ashes.

“JuJu laughed when I left Friday, because I hate flying,” said Smith, who had legal custody of his son after divorcing the mother.

The Menifee boy was reported missing by his mother, Shawna Smith, the morning of July 7. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department began a nearly four-day search effort—complemented by nightfall Sunday by a massive citizen volunteer effort—spanning 81 square miles across much of southwest Riverside County.

On July 10, authorities announced a citizen volunteer had spotted what looked to be partially-exposed human remains in a shallow grave near a tree in the backyard of the Helen Lane home where the boy lived with his mother, her partner, his 16-year-old half brother and 13-year-old half sister.

The boy’s half brother, Skylor Atilano, has been charged with murder in the case.

Thursday evening, however, was meant as a time for healing for many who searched for the boy. It was also a way for Smith Sr. to express his gratitude to them.

“Each step of the way, JuJu’s angels have come to help me,” Smith said. “I want to hug each and everyone I can.”

He did. 

After he was through with his remarks, Smith started at the top of the amphitheater and worked his way down, shaking hands with and hugging those in attendance.

Volunteers cried, hugged and reunited. 

Former Menifee resident Nikki O’Neal, 20, was among them.

“I did try to search for Terry,” O’Neal said. “I went searching all over the place, even to some mountains in Canyon Hills. It was a real disappointment that he was there all along.”

O’Neal said she came to the service Thursday to be a part of the community “coming together, praying with each other and getting our spirits up.”

“Terry was not alone,” she said.

Gilbert Duran, his wife Laura, and their teenaged son and daughter also joined the search effort. For them, it was personal because their daughter was good friends with Terry Jr.’s half sister.

“We’ve known the family for three years...we knew Terry,” Duran said.

When they heard the news he was missing, they all began searching.

“We knew it was him right off the bat,” Duran said. “My son got on his bike and rode up and down the hills, looking. He actually went to the command center to ask the police how he could help...He was out every day in the sun—we all were.”

Duran expressed some criticism of Terry Jr.’s mother, who was questioned by police as were all the members of the household.

Shawna Smith, who has been tight-lipped since the tragedy unfolded, told NBC4 recently that she was not involved in her son’s death and that she took a polygraph test and passed. She told the news station she misses her three children—one presumed dead, one not presently living with her and one awaiting trial.

“... My kids were my life,” she told NBC4. “They still are. I love all three of them."

It was unclear whether she was in attendance at Thursday’s service. On Saturday, a private memorial service was held at Revival Christian Fellowship in Menifee.

In closing Thursday's service, Pastor Enniss pointed the crowd to The Bible, specifically to Psalms 23 and Ecclesiastes.  He encouraged them not to question, “Why did this happen?” but “What” they will do because of it.