Still No Sign Of Missing Autistic Boy, Search Continues

Authorities said there was still no sign this morning of an 11-year-old autistic boy who went missing from his Menifee home.

Riverside County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched at 10:33 a.m. Sunday to a home in the 33000 block of Helen Lane, where they were told that Terry Dewayne Smith went missing around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Lisa McConnell.

Deputies searched for Terry but couldn't find him in the area, even with a bloodhound, McConnell said.

A sheriff's dispatcher said the boy had still not been found as of around 2 a.m. today, despite the efforts of hundreds of searchers who have been combing the area.

It's believed that Terry, who has now been without necessary medication for several days, walked away from his home on his own.  It's not believed that he was taken.

"At this point, there's no evidence pointing that [he was taken]," Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Albert Martinez told Patch Monday.  "Right now, all we have is that he probably wandered off."

"[Investigators] did process the house yesterday and they didn't find any clues as far as any type of foul play, but they're not ruling anything out," he added.

Terry is 4 feet 8, 76 pounds and has blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing blue basketball shorts.

Anyone who spots Terry or knows his whereabouts is urged to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000 or sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776- 1099.