A Michigan man stabbed his ex-girlfriend and killed her daughter. Now, he will never hurt another child again.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker handed Rashad Trice a life sentence in federal prison for the strangulation death of 2-year-old Wynter Cole Smith. To avoid the death penalty, Trice pleaded guilty to kidnapping, resulting in death one week after he received another life sentence without parole on state charges at Ingham County Circuit Court. In addition, he was sentenced to 60-90 years for the violent assault against Cole-Smith’s mother. Trice also accepted a plea deal for the state charges and was convicted of first-degree murder and first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
“Today we have achieved a measure of justice. 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 continued: “I am so grateful to the hundreds of officers from over two dozen law enforcement agencies who came running to join the statewide search for Wynter Cole-Smith. Their commitment to protect and serve was overwhelming,” said Western District of Michigan U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
On July 2, 2023, Trice got into a heated argument with Cole-Smith’s mother, which led to the woman stabbing the defendant, and in return, Trice stabbed her multiple times and assaulted her sexually. Then, Cole-Smith’s mother managed to escape to her mother’s residence in the same apartment complex, leaving her 1-year-old son and daughter behind. Soon, Trice took the 2-year-old with him and fled the scene.
Lansing Police Department was alerted and soon placed a “Be-on-the-Lookout” (BOLO) for a white Chevrolet Impala. The next day, Trice was spotted in St. Clair Shores and was apprehended after a car chase, but Cole-Smith was not with him. Hence, authorities used the defendant’s phone to map out his movements and found the child’s body in an overgrown Detroit alley on July 5. An autopsy report showed the victim had been strangled with a phone cord.
“This was a senseless tragedy that shook our community to its core. While nothing can replace the loss of Wynter Cole Smith. I hope today’s sentencing offers some solace to Wynter’s family who have endured unimaginable pain," ,” stated Lansing Police Chief Rob Backus, reported The Detroit News.
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