Wynter Cole Smith was kidnapped by her mother’s ex-boyfriend three days ago in Lansing, Michigan. The mother also claimed her ex-boyfriend stabbed her prior to the kidnapping.
Wynter Cole Smith’s family has been anxiously awaiting news on the two-year-old after being abducted by her mother’s ex-boyfriend, Rashad Trice, late on Sunday night. Trice was found and arrested on Monday morning, but Wynter remained missing.
The FBI and local authorities issued statements pleading with the public to check any surveillance footage they may have on the suspected routes Trice traveled with Wynter between Sunday night and Monday morning.
As authorities searched for Wynter, the girl’s grandmother said they hoped she would be returned home safely because they had heard of stories of children being brought home after suffering tragedy.
Tragically, Wynter’s body was found near the Coleman A. Young Aiport on Wednesday evening. The case is now being investigated as a homicide.
What Happened to Wynter?
Soon after Wynter was abducted following Trice stabbing her mother, her grandmother spoke out about the incident, saying they had been on an emotional rollercoaster and hoped her son’s daughter would soon be home.
Wynter’s mother was stabbed, and when she fled the home to call the police, she returned to find her daughter, along with her mother’s car, had disappeared. Wynter’s one-year-old brother was still in the house and unharmed.
Trice has been confirmed not to be Wynter’s biological father and was found and arrested early on Monday morning. While Trice was in custody and the stolen car had been found, police could still not locate Wynter.
For this reason, the FBI confirmed they would issue a $25,000 reward to anyone with any information about Wynter’s whereabouts.
The FBI also released the routes they suspected Trice may have been traveling with Wynter and asked that anybody who lived along those routes provide any information or clues they may have surrounding Wynter’s death. The areas they were investigating were Erwin Avenue and Olympia Street. Trice fled Beau Jarden Drive, where the home of Wynter and her mother is located.
Police were able to locate Trice at around 5 a.m. on Monday, and tried to flee before crashing the stolen vehicle he was driving into another patrol car. He resisted arrest at the scene but was apprehended. Wynter was not in the car when this happened.
Sadly, nobody came forward, and Wynter’s body was found three days after she went missing.
Police were able to locate Trice at around 5 a.m. on Monday. He tried to flee before crashing the stolen vehicle he was driving into another patrol car. He resisted arrest at the scene but was apprehended. Wynter was not in the car when this happened. Sadly, Wynter’s body was found three days after she went missing.
Wynter’s grandmother had high hopes for her safe return as Wynter’s mother recovered from her stab wounds in the hospital. Now the family is in mourning for the loss of their precious child.
While Wynter was still missing, Wynter’s grandparents and father had spoken out about how the series of events in the family affected them. Almount Smith, Wynter’s grandfather, admitted:
“From the time this happened, I have not really been sleeping; I have not eaten.”
When asked what he would say to Trice if they came face-to-face, Smith said he would ask where his granddaughter was and let Trice know that everybody knew Wynter was his “Angel” and that he had called her that since the day she was born.
Before the news of Wynter’s death broke, Smith admitted he was asking everyone for prayers or his granddaughter’s safe return, and he cried each time he asked someone new to pray for the child and their family.
Meanwhile, Wynter’s father said each time he woke up, he looked at his phone and saw his daughter, only to turn and find that she was not there with him. Even driving was difficult for him as he would find himself constantly looking at the back seat and realizing she wasn’t there.
Trice is now facing charges of assault with intent to murder, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, aggravated domestic violence-second offense, unlawful driving away of an automobile, and felonious assault. The charges regarding Wynter’s death have not yet been released as public knowledge.
Our thoughts and prayers are with little Wynter’s family during this difficult time. May she rest in peace.
