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‘She’s gone’: Prosecutors reveal new text messages in Michigan Amber Alert case against Rashad Trice

Trice appeared in federal court in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Rashad Trice, 26, had his very first appearance in a federal courtroom on Tuesday for his alleged role in the death of his ex-girlfriend’s daughter, 2-year-old Wynter Cole Smith.

In the preliminary hearing that occurred in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, July 11, federal Judge Ray Kent found probable cause to proceed with the charges against Trice. During the hearing, investigators revealed how they used technology to locate Trice with cell phone pinging and license plate readers during a statewide search.

Text messages from Trice’s phone were also revealed, including several believed to be addressed to family, which seem to show his mindset amid the chaos. On July 2, Trice is accused of kidnapping Wynter and assaulting her mother in Lansing before allegedly killing the girl and leaving her in a Detroit alley.

One text message sent by Trice reads: “I love y’all, but I have to end this.” Another one reads the chilling words, “She’s gone.”

Wynter’s body was found in Detroit three days after she went missing. It’s alleged that Trice strangled the 2-year-old with a phone charger.

Read: Wynter Cole Smith case: Everything suspected kidnapper, police said during car chase, arrest

The body of Wynter Cole Smith was found July 5, 2023, in a Detroit alley. (WDIV)

On Tuesday, Trice waived his right to a detention hearing. If he is convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison on a death resulting from kidnapping charge.

Even though Michigan does not have the death penalty, if convicted, Trice is eligible to be executed under federal law.

Local 4 obtained exclusive video of the chase, crash, and arrest from the day Trice was located by police in St. Clair Shores. Click here to watch that video.

Full video of incident can be seen below


About the Authors
Victor Williams headshot

Victor Williams joined Local 4 News in October of 2019 after working for WOIO in Cleveland, OH, WLOX News in Biloxi, MS, and WBBJ in Jackson, TN. Victor developed a love for journalism after realizing he was a great speaker and writer at an early age.

Brandon Carr headshot

Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.

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