GUILTY CA - Terry Smith, 11, autistic, Menifee, 6 July 2013

[Bodhi]

I'm not saying he had it for sure. I wouldn't know. But let me say this, dads have a tendency to say their children do not have these issues because they don't want to believe it. Dad did mention ADHD. As for how at just 10 or whatever age being diagnosed, it IS possible. If you look there is information on kids being diagnosed that late. And some teachers won't really notice it if its high functioning. Believe me! I've been there! My sons school told me for years nothing was wrong. They were wrong.

I appreciate your insight, Kinpa4. I figured the father was accurate when I read that he said Terry is not autistic yesterday morning. But just because the father seems believable, that doesn't mean his assessment is accurate. Fathers are generally less willing to recognize a medical issue! When it is not something physical, it is even harder to recognize. I was willing to go with what Terry Sr. said, especially with the way this is turning out, and suspect that the diagnosis was for financial reasons.

Your post brought me back to the reality that he may not truly appreciate his son's issue. I dealt with that with my very intelligent DH and our sons' asthma for a long time and the late diagnosis of our teen son with ADD Inattentive.

 

[Janeumayer]

I heard a quick clip of an interview with the father tonight, and he said he believes the reason the mother was labeling the son as autistic was because she wanted to get a monthly disability check from the state.

[ from local KCBS 11 pm news]

Shame on the Doctor who diagnosed him. He/She should have their licensed revoked.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

Shame on the Doctor who diagnosed him. He/She should have their licensed revoked.

IIRC... Two of Terry's teachers reported in an article (I don't have it at my finger tips at the moment) that Terry was NOT autistic... And that he was NOT in a special program (could be in-class program.. As I had children diagnosed with autism in my mainstream elementary classes as a teacher... And these students qualified for additional help outside the classroom just in specific areas.....

I am not trying to proclaim who is correct here...

I am just wondering if Terry's mom was attempting to get Terry diagnosed with autism... But had not been successful as yet...

Just some thoughts...

 

[Janeumayer]

I appreciate your insight, Kinpa4. I figured the father was accurate when I read that he said Terry is not autistic yesterday morning. But just because the father seems believable, that doesn't mean his assessment is accurate. Fathers are generally less willing to recognize a medical issue! When it is not something physical, it is even harder to recognize. I was willing to go with what Terry Sr. said, especially with the way this is turning out, and suspect that the diagnosis was for financial reasons.

Your post brought me back to the reality that he may not truly appreciate his son's issue. I dealt with that with my very intelligent DH and our sons' asthma for a long time and the late diagnosis of our teen son with ADD Inattentive.

But his teachers were also disputing the autism story. <modsnip> Father did say he had ADHD.

 

[tgirl1130]

I think it's a sad world when something like this happens and we automatically think it's a family member but that's exactly what i thought when i read this story. The outpouring of help and support and love that came from this community though that made my heart feel good. There are still people out there that care about another human being. Its a tragic end to the story but the community should bel proud.

 

[2Hip2BSquare]

#KCAL 9 breaking news-- the first comments from the father of missing Menifee boy Terry Smith.. and he has BIG questions to answer

https://twitter.com/WILGOREN


Menifee 24/7 &#8207;@menifee247 2m

Father of missing boy says police have told him remains found in a shallow grave are probably those of his son. http://fb.me/2F0pz5YIp

https://twitter.com/menifee247

When will this EVER STOP! Another victim of violence and evil. God Bless this poor boy. RIP.

 

[2Hip2BSquare]

I have ADHD and I regularly talk with my psych about how we believe ADHD is a more functional version of autism.

I can see how the doctor could have mistook his ADHD for a more functional version of Autism. IMHO

 

[tgirl1130]

My niece is Autistic. Moderate to severe and we knew by 2 years old that something wasn't quite right. This was 17 years ago when Autism was more something you read about then actually happened to you. I woul think even mild autisim is evident to both parents,teachers, doctors and by 11 years old there's a definite diagnosis. Some parents may be in denial at first but at 11 year's old? At this point I'm believing Dad

 

[alwaysonmymind]

I was praying this had a different outcome.

RIP Terry ~

 

[tgirl1130]

This is a heart breaker. RIP Terry

 

[2Hip2BSquare]

My niece is Autistic. Moderate to severe and we knew by 2 years old that something wasn't quite right. This was 17 years ago when Autism was more something you read about then actually happened to you. I woul think even mild autisim is evident to both parents,teachers, doctors and by 11 years old there's a definite diagnosis. Some parents may be in denial at first but at 11 year's old? At this point I'm believing Dad

I was playing with kids from Juliard by the time I was 5 yo. College reading level by 4th grade but no math abilities. I had some savant qualities. Yet, I was only diagnosed as ADD. I honestly think I'm actually An Aspie, but that line between ADD and Aspergers is so faint that the two can be confused and somewhat interchangeable IMHO.

I believe the pops, too.

 

[Bodhi]

I'm not saying this child was autistic, just there isn't enough public information to say his mother sought the diagnosis for financial reasons.

I've read that two teachers said he was not autistic. But I don't remember the article had direct quotes from the teachers or whether that was what Terry Sr. told the reporter. I'll check to see what the MSM has reported about the teachers. It'd be worth noting whether the teachers were in his previous school district in West Virginia or his current district in California. Diagnosis protocols and practices may be different in different districts.

Individual teachers may be attuned to recommend evaluation whereas others may not recognize the symptoms in an intelligent child My child had a elementary teacher who refused to accept another student had Aspergers, even after he had been evaluated and diagnosed by specialists. She continued to state he was just lazy.

 

[miabellamoure]

I *think* they ran that interview on Kcal9 as well. I'm looking for it now. I'm on my phone so may not be able to link it but ill give directions

ETA: Link to video interview of dad.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/07/10/father-of-missing-menifee-boy-things-didnt-add-up/

Thank you for the link...heartbreaking to hear the Father describe how Terry told him he had wanted to come back home and that he didn't like how he was being treated.

It sounds like the Mom might have been receiving money already from the state when the Father said he felt she was trying to "up the ante" <modsnip>

 

[Bodhi]

I was playing with kids from Juliard by the time I was 5 yo. College reading level by 4th grade but no math abilities. I had some savant qualities. Yet, I was only diagnosed as ADD. I honestly think I'm actually An Aspie, but that line between ADD and Aspergers is so faint that the two can be confused and somewhat interchangeable IMHO.

I believe the pops, too.

Very interesting, 2Hip2BSquare! My 17-year-old brilliant child was diagnosed with ADD Inattentive last year. I put off having him evaluated because he was doing OK in school. But executive functioning deficits become increasing apparent in high school. I have trouble getting him to recognize it is not a character flaw: he'd prefer to think he is struggling in school because he is lazy. His tests and the work he hands in are a B+ or an A, but the small homework assignments sink him! Anyway, I'm intrigued with what you said about the continuum between ADD and Aspergers. I'll read about that! Thanks!

I, too, tend to believe the father. But it does concern me that he hadn't had contact with his son in several months. That said, he is obviously a man in tremendous grief and my heart goes out to him!

 

[miabellamoure]

OMG. I wasn't following this case, but I just read it all. Horrible.

I think we may be having more teen killers than before, seriously. I know that we also hear about it more often than society used to because of how the media is nowadays, but I swear the rate is rising (since at least a period of say a century).

I picked up one question some folks had, about how the remains could be partially uncovered and not be found by family, etc. It's possible they were covered and later animal activity uncovered part of them.

I still don't get how dogs missed that. Apparently LE needs different dogs?



From my understanding of the articles, a sister did live at home and it was reported that the tip called into police came from the home (links provided above by others). Hmmmm. That poor sister!!

I'm also reading that searchers reported the tip due to a smell of decomp, so the situation is still muddled.

I'm just sick that it sounds like it could have been avoided in the sense that the 16-yr-old relative wasn't good to poor Terry, according to Terry's father. That is so very sad I wish he had lived with his father and those siblings like he said he wanted. I just don't understand

I read somewhere last night (sorry, can't remember where...) that the smell was first presumed by searchers to be coming from porta-potties set up for the search crews. However, later the smell became more apparent and I think it was said that the smell of "death" was quickly distinguishable from any smell that could come from a porta-potty...

 

[Kinpa4]

My niece is Autistic. Moderate to severe and we knew by 2 years old that something wasn't quite right. This was 17 years ago when Autism was more something you read about then actually happened to you. I woul think even mild autisim is evident to both parents,teachers, doctors and by 11 years old there's a definite diagnosis. Some parents may be in denial at first but at 11 year's old? At this point I'm believing Dad

I think this will be my last post on this subject and just wanted to reply quickly to this.

I knew something wasn't right with my son from age 1. He did not get a formal diagnosis until he was in 4th grade. See what I'm saying? Some people will not see it. Or refuse to see it. My sons own pediatrician says she doesn't believe my son has it. Well this is what I say to her opinion, she sees him for a very short time once a year, how would she know this? She has never tested him on anything, spent time with him etc. she's wrong. It happens. I'm NOT saying Terry had it, just it's possible.

 

[kkdj]

I read somewhere last night (sorry, can't remember where...) that the smell was first presumed by searchers to be coming from porta-potties set up for the search crews. However, later the smell became more apparent and I think it was said that the smell of "death" was quickly distinguishable from any smell that could come from a porta-potty...

This could help determine TOD I believe.

 

[YidArmyRach]

Very interesting, 2Hip2BSquare! My 17-year-old brilliant child was diagnosed with ADD Inattentive last year. I put off having him evaluated because he was doing OK in school. But executive functioning deficits become increasing apparent in high school. I have trouble getting him to recognize it is not a character flaw: he'd prefer to think he is struggling in school because he is lazy. His tests and the work he hands in are a B+ or an A, but the small homework assignments sink him! Anyway, I'm intrigued with what you said about the continuum between ADD and Aspergers. I'll read about that! Thanks!

I, too, tend to believe the father. But it does concern me that he hadn't had contact with his son in several months. That said, he is obviously a man in tremendous grief and my heart goes out to him!

My 8 year old has struggled all through school with various issues - hates change, gets obsessional about things, very poor concentration, very slow when reading and writing and struggles with handwriting. All along the teachers have said they think he has Aspergers ..... just got the official diagnosis - ADD. So, yes I think there is a link.

 

[2Hip2BSquare]

OMG. I wasn't following this case, but I just read it all. Horrible.

I think we may be having more teen killers than before, seriously. I know that we also hear about it more often than society used to because of how the media is nowadays, but I swear the rate is rising (since at least a period of say a century).

I picked up one question some folks had, about how the remains could be partially uncovered and not be found by family, etc. It's possible they were covered and later animal activity uncovered part of them.

I still don't get how dogs missed that. Apparently LE needs different dogs?



From my understanding of the articles, a sister did live at home and it was reported that the tip called into police came from the home (links provided above by others). Hmmmm. That poor sister!!

I'm also reading that searchers reported the tip due to a smell of decomp, so the situation is still muddled.

I'm just sick that it sounds like it could have been avoided in the sense that the 16-yr-old relative wasn't good to poor Terry, according to Terry's father. That is so very sad I wish he had lived with his father and those siblings like he said he wanted. I just don't understand

Whoa what 16 yr old relative? I didn't hear/read of this yet. Can someone fill me in on this 16 yr old? Thank you.

 

[MsFacetious]

I certainly hope there are more charges coming for more people. :furious:

Whoa what 16 yr old relative? I didn't hear/read of this yet. Can someone fill me in on this 16 yr old? Thank you.

In an interview with Eyewitness News, Terry Smith's dad said the 16-year-old who was arrested for murder in the disappearance of the Menifee boy was violent, and his mother knew it.

"(The mother) knew that he did get violent with his brother and sister. I begged her to get him the right kind of help," said Terry Smith Sr., who lives in West Virginia.

"In fact, I begged her to get the right kind of help for herself, and it just never happened."

The teen was taken into custody on Wednesday, suspected of killing 11-year-old Terry Smith Jr.
The suspect is believed to be the victim's half-brother.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=9169276