STHS student died from blunt force trauma
By Kathryn Reed
An autopsy of 14-year-old Dejon Smith ruled the cause of death blunt force trauma.
The South Tahoe High School freshman died immediately, according to the Dec. 18 forensic autopsy conducted in Sacramento.
Dejon Smith
The results came hours before family and friends gathered Thursday night near the site where he died. A tree struck Smith during last week’s powerful windstorm.
While there is no question about how Smith died, there are plenty of unknowns about what led up to the tragedy and who might have more information.
“As in any kind of death investigation, we want to piece together the last hours of what happened,” Police Chief Brian Uhler told Lake Tahoe News.
Even if someone had seen the tree fall on Smith, no crime would have been committed by not reporting what happened. Civil charges could be a different situation.
Police said in the last week a friend of Smith’s admitted the two were “checking out houses” prior to the tragedy. No burglaries were reported.
“We are not sure what exactly was about to happen. There is no indication of other crimes in the area,” Uhler said.
Smith went out Dec. 11, knowing the next day had been deemed a snow day so there would be no school. But he didn’t come back and his parents reported him missing.
As is protocol, his information was entered into the Missing Unidentified Persons System because nearly one-quarter of the juveniles who run away from South Lake Tahoe are located in other jurisdictions. Police searched his neighborhood to no avail.
On Dec. 12 the boy’s parents received a call telling them about someone who may have information. Police say this is the youth who was with Smith looking at the houses for what are still unknown reasons.
“The juvenile described hearing a very loud crash, but denied seeing a tree fall. He was frightened and ran away. He believed Dejon likely did the same, but he had not seen him since,” a police press release states.
Searchers eventually found the body Dec. 13 under a large pine tree, almost completely concealed by branches. The pine tree was approximately 4 feet in diameter at its base. Firefighters had to use chain saws to section the tree into pieces to remove the body.
The investigation is not over. Officers have a list of people they intend to question. Tips may be called into the SLTPD at 530.542.6100 or to Secret Witness at 530.541.6800.
Very sad story. My heart goes out to the family.
I offer my condolences to the Smith family. I attended the vigil for Dejon yesterday evening. Many of Dejon’s friends spoke about what a wonderful person and friend Dejon was to them. What happened to Dejon is just a tragic accident. The family is struggling to come up with the money for the funeral. It would be nice if the community could help this family financially. LTN can you find out how people can donate to the family and post it to your website?
Donations may be made online — http://www.gofundme.com/iun11g
South Tahoe Refuse is covering the funeral expenses and Grocery Outlet will be providing food after the services.
LTN staff
Donate here … http://www.gofundme.com/iun11g
I love this community. Someone always seems to step-up to the plate.
Thank you South Tahoe Refuse for covering the funeral expenses for the Smith family and thank you Grocery Outlet for providing food after the services.
It takes good people in the community to BUILD a good community!
My condolences to the Smith family. This town feels your pain and we are here for you. Bob Rockwell or OLS if you prefer.
I should add, I worked for STR for many years and I shop at Grocery Outlet.
Sadness for this family and their loss. It could have been any of our children and we should all hug our kids a little tighter and longer in Dejon’s memory. How wonderful for South Tahoe Refuse and Grocery Outlet to help with making this familys loss much easier to process. RIP Dejon.
Did this article insinuate that this boy and his friend may have been looking for houses to burglarize? Did I read that wrong?
That’s exactly what it said, they were casing houses to burglarize….
I hope that is not the case.
Tahoehunter-shut up punk/jerk
Wtf is wrong with you?
Some of the comments here regarding Devon’s demise, I find offensive, cruel and disrepectful to the grieving family.
He was looking for houses to burglarize? How do you know that? I often walk the streets in my neighborhood in the early morning hours when it’s still dark with a spotlight checking on the neighbors houses. Am I looking to break in? Hell no! I’m looking for people who might be doing so and to scare off the bears in the neighbors trash. Am I “casing” the area for stealing stuff? Hell no! I’m trying to PREVENT the creeps from stealing private property and the bears from doing damage, spreading trash and making a mess of the neighbborhood. If a tree falls on me or I get stabbed or shot by one of the bad guys? Well, at least I died tryin’.
Thank you for your time and please be a little more respectful of the Smith family and the loss of their son. OLS
Every article, including out of Reno, is saying the same thing, I didn’t write it…
if you go and look for yourself and not rely on the news paper’s you may see something that you don’t like.
I’m sorry for that Boy and his Family.
maybe those other kids will not be breaking into houses anymore.
I don’t know about anyone else, but my question wasn’t not intended as disrespect. I have read a few stories now that claim this young man and his friends may have been out that evening “checking out house”. Possibly for nefarious propose which is why they were not honest about where they had seen him last. For me, the answer to this question will determine whether or not I make a donation to the family. I cannot make a contribution to honor someone who may have trying victimize my friends and neighbors. Especially if the family had knowledge of it. Perhaps that makes me a bad person.
C’mon people. Can you give it a rest until the family has time to grieve? It may or may not be true but have some respect for the family’s at this time. Button it up.
Also, I’ll donate twice what I had intended to make up for all you scrooges.
Seriously. Shame on you.
I hope Dejon has now found some rest and peace.
Clearly, some “people” on this blog never will.
A fourteen year old kid is dead from a falling tree. What is the point again of the negative comments about the kid.
RIP He is now a Angel.
wow! so powerful. so certain. kathy, you are a shining example of the ‘power of faith’.
I married a guy who at age 17, broke into neighbors houses to impress his friends. Nothing of value was taken but people were victimized just the same. He was tried as an adult and served a year in prison. He’s never been in trouble since and grew up to be a productive man who has volunteered his time as a coach and positive community member. He has three kids, all successful. He’s someone who has given back and paid it forward in many ways.
We don’t know what Dejon was doing BUT at worst case scenario, that should not define him in death. Kids do stupid things. He’s someone’s child and these parents have suffered the ultimate loss. Anyone who would like to donate would not be contributing to something negative but rather would be rising above and acting out of kindness.
It must get lonely up on those high horses some of you have.
I knew Dejon and he a nice, respectful and good-hearted person. REGARDLESS of the circumstances he didn’t deserve this and neither did his family (who are also kind, hardworking parents) I’m sure none of you EVER made bad decisions at age 14.
It’s rude and disrespectful to drag a dead kids name through the mud. I’d love to see how some of you reacted if it was YOUR child/family.
RIP DE-DE.
If the kids who were there saw the tree fall on him and ran away, and intended to commit a crime, there will be many lives impacted by this, pretty sad….
so, so sad for the family who lost their son in a tragic accident. So,so proud of our community for stepping up to help them out — kudos to STR and GO — and to everyone who has donated through gofundme, money dropped off at GO or STR, or jars set up throughout town. I’ve seen high school kids dropping change into the jars at subway and GO.
Now is not the time for innuendoes, now is the time to come together to support the Smith family and each other.
Innuendoes mrs.t, we’ll see about that….
Sad all around. But perhaps if he wasn’t out “casing houses” to burglarize ( especially during the holidays) he may have avoided the falling tree. God took care of it.
“Checking out houses” does not necessarily mean “casing houses”
Would all this negative crap be written if the kid was white? I really doubt it, and that is part of our national problem .
I have rarely seen this kind of blather, regarding what people think was happening. No burglaries were reported. Total conjecture.
Kids play in the woods. That is a good thing. This was a terrible accident, the kid did not pull the tree onto himself. Nobody else did either.
All of you nut cases, put your heads back where they were before you began all this nonsense.
Kits Carson is a verifiable racist. Look at their previous comments.
Oh wait, they were deleted for being racist.
Let the kid die in peace.
I get that he was checking out houses that day… but so was I ans my family of 7, although we were in a car doing it… he was only 14 so he was on foot!! Did any of you stop to think that maybe those kids were checking out houses for damage from the wind?? Trees were falling down, roofs were flying off… all kinds of stuff was blowing around! Yes he should have been inside but it was crazy cool to see weather like that… to watch what nature is capable of… how do you know that he and his friend weren’t walking around checking out houses for damage?? How do you know that his hat didn’t fly off his head into that yard causing him to go after it?? How do you know?? You dont!! No one does! None of the new articles say that… in fact they say they don’t know why he was checking out houses and that NO crime was committed at all!!! Yet all kinds of you heartless people judge a dead child and his heartbroken family!!! I’m reading comments how he got what he deserved??? How yiu don’t want to help the family cause your so full of foolish judgements! You people suck! How will you feel when a tragedy like this happens to one of your loved ones?? I fell sorry for you and your selfish pitiful world! It’s Christmas.. maybe you should ask for a heart! RIP Dede… this should have never happened to you… ever!
Cranky…..sigh. Please stop making race an issue. Disgusting.
Cosa you are beginning to stink like fish. Clean up your act.