On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that the man from Michigan who was recently given a life sentence for state charges in the death of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith has now been given another life sentence in the federal case.
Rashad Trice was given a sentence after admitting to kidnapping with the intent to kill. He admitted to killing someone and having sexual relations with a minor, which is what the state thought.
“Today we have achieved a measure of justice,” said Mark Totten, the U.S. attorney. “We can’t bring back the precious life of Wynter Cole-Smith, but we can do our best to ensure her killer is found guilty and spends the rest of his life in prison, which is what we’ve done today.” Totten went on, “I am so grateful to the hundreds of police officers from more than two dozen agencies who came running to help search for Wynter Cole-Smith across the whole state.” It was clear that they were willing to protect and serve.
Police said Trice took Wynter hostage in Lansing on July 2, 2023. There was a federal criminal complaint made last year that said Trice hit Wynter’s mother before taking the child from her home after they fought. Trice was arrested in St. Clair Shores early on July 3. The child was not with him at the time of the arrest, though.
On July 5, Wynter’s body was discovered near Detroit’s Coleman A. Young International Airport. Investigators found that Trice used a phone line to choke the child.
“Little Wynter still breaks our hearts.” “She should still be here,” said Dawn Ison, who is the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Over several days, federal, state, and local police across the state worked together to find her and bring her home safely. Their tireless search showed how dedicated and cooperatively we work every day to protect and serve our citizens.” Even though little Wynter can’t be brought back, I hope that the attempt and today’s sentence bring some comfort to her family.
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