News

Jun 17, 2023

Man Strangled 2

MICHIGAN — A man faces the death penalty after federal officials said he kidnapped a 2-year-old and strangled her to death with a phone charger cord before dumping her body along an overgrown alley in

MICHIGAN — A man faces the death penalty after federal officials said he kidnapped a 2-year-old and strangled her to death with a phone charger cord before dumping her body along an overgrown alley in Detroit.

Officials found the body of Wynter Smith, 2, at roughly 6:50 p.m. Wednesday in an alley with tall grass behind a home on Detroit’s east side near Olympia Street and Erwin Avenue, police said. Officials said officers found her with a pink cell phone charger on her body.

Rashad Trice, 26, was charged with kidnapping a minor (minimum sentence of 20 years and a max sentence of life in prison) and kidnapping resulting in death (a sentence of life in prison). If he is convicted of kidnapping resulting in death, he faces the death penalty, officials said.

"The allegations in this case are heart-wrenching," U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten said. "My thoughts are very much with Wynter’s family, as we were all praying for her safe return home."

Trice also faces charges of attacking Wynter's mother before he kidnapped the 2-year-old and drove away in a 2013 white Chevrolet Impala, where parts of the cellphone charger were inside.

Trice was charged with assault with intent to murder, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, aggravated domestic violence (second offense), unlawful driving away of an automobile, felonious assault and two counts of first-degree criminal sexual assault.

"We are heartbroken over the loss of our beautiful daughter, granddaughter, cousins, niece and big sister, Wynter Cole Smith," Wynter's family said. "Wynter's brief but bright life was taken from her unnecessarily; and we will grieve her death forever."

In a series of text messages with his uncle at 3:06 a.m. — after police said Trice kidnapped Wynter — Trice's uncle said "I love u man please," "I can help come to me ray" and "it's not your fault the girl is the devil," according to a criminal complaint.

Trice responded with "I love y'all but I have to end this shit man," according to a criminal complaint. The date of the messages were unclear in the complaint.

A public vigil will be held Friday in Detroit near First Church of the Redeemed, close to where officials found the 2-year-old's body.

Wynter Smith was last seen alive Sunday night in Lansing around 11:30 p.m. with Trice in the Impala, officials said.

Officials believe Trice stabbed Wynter's mother, whom he had a relationship with, before he took the 2-year-old and drove away in the Impala. The mother was hospitalized in stable condition but has since been released from the hospital, officials said.

Officials believe Trice drove eastbound on Interstate 96 from Lansing into Detroit sometime around 1 a.m. Monday morning. He then got on eastbound Interstate 94 at around 2:40 a.m. until he exited the freeway in St. Clair Shores, where police said he crashed while fleeing officers around 5 a.m. Monday, officials said.

Wynter was nowhere to be found after the crash, officials said.