Rashad Maleek Trice, 27, has pleaded guilty to the tragic crime of kidnapping Wynter Cole-Smith, his ex-girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, and strangling her with a pink cellphone charger. According to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, this marks a significant step forward in seeking justice for Wynter’s family and the people of Michigan.
Trice was charged in the 30th Judicial Circuit Court
in Ingham County with one count each of first-degree murder and first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The case highlights the brutality of his actions, as he not only kidnapped the young girl but also murdered her and abandoned her body in an alley.
The kidnapping occurred when Trice stole his ex-girlfriend’s mother’s car and issued an Amber Alert. A police chase ensued, ending in Trice crashing into another police car
. Despite possessing significant blood evidence in the vehicle that matched Trice’s wounds, Wynter was still missing. Her body was eventually discovered days later near Coleman A. Young International Airport.
The federal criminal complaint details how Trice’s ex-girlfriend called Lansing police after an altercation led to her stabbing him in self-defense. Trice retaliated by stabbing her multiple times and assaulting her sexually before fleeing with Wynter and a 1-year-old boy she left behind.
An Amber Alert initiated a statewide search for Wynter. Despite authorities finding portions of a pink charging cord in Trice’s stolen vehicle, this did not immediately lead them to Wynter’s location.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s statement, While nothing can ever fully heal the grief of Wynter’s family and loved ones
, the plea represents a step towards healing. Nessel emphasized the horror inflicted by Trice’s crime spree and its lasting impact on the victims.
In an effort to spare survivors from further trauma, Nessel’s office consolidated multiple crimes under one prosecution. This approach ensured community safety and protected remaining victims while securing a life sentence through a plea deal without resorting to lengthy trials.
This federal plea follows Trice’s earlier guilty plea in March to related federal charges, with his sentencing in that case scheduled for July 19. During an interview with FBI agents, Trice attributed the violent events to an argument over money.
As law enforcement closed in on him, body camera footage revealed Trice’s resigned acceptance of his fate. He remarked to one officer about likely spending the rest of his life in prison – a grim but just reality given his heinous actions against innocent lives.
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