The 26-year-old suspect who allegedly kidnapped and killed 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith was charged federally on Friday and now could face the death penalty.
Rashad Maleek Trice has been charged with Kidnapping a Minor and Kidnapping Resulting in Death. If convicted of the Kidnapping Resulting in Death charge, the statutory mandatory minimum is life in prison. He can also face the death penalty.
As alleged on July 2, 2023, the mother of Wynter Cole-Smith reported to the Lansing Police Department that she had been stabbed by Trice and ultimately fled her apartment to escape him. The two were in a dating relationship.
When police responded to her apartment, the suspect and her 2-year-old child were gone. A white Chevrolet Impala had also been stolen. On July 3, police attempted to stop the white Chevrolet Impala in St. Clair Shores and the driver attempted to flee. Police apprehended the driver, Trice, but Cole-Smith was not in the car.
Cell site information showed the approximate path Trice’s phone had recently taken, which prompted law enforcement to start conducting searches for Cole-Smith in specific areas, according to the complaint.
On July 5, 2023, law enforcement found Cole-Smith’s body in a Detroit alley.
According to the complaint, the cause of death appeared to be strangulation with a pink cell phone charging cord, that was recovered with the body. The pink cell phone charging cord was consistent with the pink cord parts recovered from the Chevrolet Impala.
On July 4, 2023, an FBI Agent interviewed Trice, who was Mirandized and agreed to speak to the FBI. Trice admitted that he and Wynter’s mother had been arguing about money on July 2, 2023, and the argument became violent, according to the complaint.
Trice also admitted that he was aware of the Amber Alert. Trice stated, words to the effect of, “I am already a monster.” Trice also stated that he wanted to ‘k-ll himself’, according to the criminal complaint. Trice was not Wynter’s biological father.
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