Terry “JuJu” Smith

Name: Terry “JuJu” Smith.
Died: July 5-6, 2013 (Exact day unknown).
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Homicide (Head injury).
Location: Menifee, California, USA.

Details:
Terry Smith loved picnics. His favorite color was blue. After a divorce and custody battle, he lived with his mother, mother’s partner, half-sister, and half-brother.

Terry may have been autistic; his mother says he was, but his father says he was not, that he had ADHD instead. Autistic or not, Terry was vulnerable. When he disappeared, a search found his body buried in the backyard of their home. Terry’s sixteen-year-old half-brother, who was known to have anger issues and had made Facebook posts including ablist slurs aimed at Terry, was arrested in connection with the case, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and was sentenced to 12 years. He spent 5 years in a juvenile detention center, then was released.

Ironically, Terry’s mother has also been accused–not by police, but by the public. She has received death threats by people who believe she is the murderer, even though she was investigated by police and is not a suspect.

References:
Teen Gets 12-Year Sentence for Half Brother’s Murder
Brother imprisoned for Terry Smith’s 2013 death is released
Terry Smith Murder
Terry Smith Jr. – The strange, sad story of a murdered 11 year old boy in Menifee, California
Terry Smith’s Brother: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know