A Gadsden county man is behind bars accused of killing a teenager and setting his car on fire to hide the crime. Dearendo Harris is under arrest and new details are emerging about the last minutes of Dekendric Smith's life.

Deputies say Harris assumed the teen would have a lot of money, and tried to rob him, but it turns out smith had less than 25 dollars in his pocket. Now his family is struggling to make sense of it all.

Vickie Freeman never knew when she saw her son Dekendric Smith on Thursday afternoon...it would be the last time.

Vickie Freeman, Dekendric Smith's Mother says, "I would hug him so tight, but we didn't know."

Freeman believes her son's body was the one discovered in a burning car in Midway around 6:30 Thursday evening. Investigators ruled it a homicide and have now arrested Dearendo Laqwan Harris for the crime.

LT Jim Corder, Gadsden County Sheriff's says, "We have probable cause to determine the method of death is strangulation. The medical examiner ruled the individual was dead prior to the fire and we believe the fire was set to contaminate any physical evidence."

Deputies say there was an eyewitness who was in the car with Harris and smith that day, but he claims to have fled before an argument spiraled out of control. It all happened the night before smith's 18th birthday. Now his eight brothers and sisters are left only with happy memories.

Davorius Freeman, Smith's Brother says, "We had Ramen noodles and we would play we were at a restaurant. we had to pay him to cook them."

Vesheia Dixon, Smith's sister says, "His favorite food was honey bun, he would say, "me need honey bun."

Emonica McGriff, Smith Sister says, "As long as we have memories we'll have a piece of him."

Deputies and Smith's family are sure that it was his body inside the car but, it was burned beyond recognition so DNA and dental identification is still pending.

Harris went before a judge Monday morning and is being held without bond for murder, robbery and arson. It turns out Harris was just released from prison last year after serving five years for robbery and battery on an officer.