Michigan is shocked that 27-year-old Rashad Trice has acknowledged his involvement in the kidnapping and death of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith.
A family was left broken and a community traumatized by the horrible events that happened in July 2023. Trice was charged with kidnapping resulting in death and kidnapping little Wynter Cole-Smith; he subsequently entered a guilty plea.
Collective Diligence Leads to Justice
The sentencing, scheduled for July 19, looms as Trice faces the grim reality of a mandatory life sentence, a small token of justice for the heinous crime committed.
US Attorney Mark Totten expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI Michigan and the Lansing Police Department, along with numerous other local, state, and federal partners who swiftly mobilized to aid in the investigation.
Their collective diligence played a pivotal role in unraveling the tragic fate of Wynter Cole-Smith and bringing her abductor to justice. Trice’s admission as part of the plea agreement laid bare the chilling sequence of events that led to Wynter’s untimely demise.
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Michigan’s FBI’s Commitment to Justice
Motivated by a dispute with her mother, Trice callously abducted the innocent toddler from her home in Lansing, Michigan, on July 2, 2023. He then callously transported her to an alley in Detroit, where he ended her precious life before callously abandoning her lifeless body.
The discovery of Wynter’s remains three days later plunged the community into mourning and disbelief. The initial complaint, revealing Trice’s violent encounter with Wynter’s mother, served as a grim precursor to the harrowing ordeal that would follow.
Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee expressed gratitude towards the prosecuting team led by US Attorney Mark Totten, hoping that the conclusion of the legal proceedings would provide Wynter’s grieving family and the law enforcement community with a semblance of closure.
Cheyvoryea Gibson, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, echoed Chief Sosebee’s sentiments, reaffirming the unwavering commitment to securing justice for Wynter Cole-Smith and her bereaved loved ones.
As the legal chapter draws to a close, the hope for healing and solace amidst the anguish remains a beacon for a community grappling with an incomprehensible loss.
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