INGHAM COUNTY, Mich. – The man who killed 2-year-old Wynter Cole Smith and assaulted her mother in 2023 was sentenced to life behind bars on Friday.
Rashad Maleek Trice pleaded guilty to kidnapping Wynter in Lansing and stabbing and sexually assaulting her mother before stealing her vehicle and killing the 2-year-old child.
Trice was arrested in St. Clair Shores hours after the toddler was kidnapped. The toddler was not with him at the time. Her body was found three days later in Detroit.
Trice pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and first-degree criminal sexual conduct on July 1, 2024. He was sentenced on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, to life without parole.
This is his second guilty plea in the murder case. He previously reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors on a kidnapping charge. That agreement came with a mandatory life-in-prison sentence.
Victim impact statements read into record
Several victim impact statements were read into the record on Friday. Trice declined to make a statement before receiving his sentence.
A statement from Wynter’s maternal grandmother was read into the record, and reads, in part:
“I really wanted the death penalty for Rashad, but I appreciate the current sentence that he’s receiving on this date. Rashad has no business in the outside world for the crime he has committed. He would only destroy more lives if given the opportunity to do so. I feel in my heart that justice has truly been served correctly for him on this day. I could not bear to be there in person. I can’t bear to see his face without reliving that tragic date of such horror. I am trying to heal the best way I can because the pain of losing my granddaughter, and the way she was taken from us, is haunting. I’ve lost so many nights of sleep reminded of what he did to my granddaughter and my daughter. Seeing him in person and hearing everything he did to her again, I feel, will only slow down the process. So, forgive me for not showing up in person and accepting this written statement today. You, Rashad M. Trice, truly deserve the death penalty for maliciously taking the life of Wynter Ava’Mae Cole Smith. You say you are a monster, but a monster is just who it is and don’t hide from the sinister things you do and create. You are an evil coward and you live like a wild animal. So you should feel right at home for the rest of your life. You deserve where you are and where you are going. Wynter did not deserve what you did to her, nor did to her mother, you should never be able to be around decent human beings after what you’ve done. Rot in hell.”
Wynter’s maternal grandmother
A statement from Wynter’s paternal grandmother was read into the record, and reads, in part:
“That night, when Wynter went missing, I took to social media and the community rallied around us. We are profoundly grateful to everyone who helped us in our search for her during that time. They helped me locate and reach out to your family and when I spoke with your uncle, later your mother, I got a glimpse into the environment you were raised in. When I asked your mother if you could have harmed my granddaughter, her cold indifferent response shocked me. She showed no concern for Wynter, only for you, as if her son’s wellbeing was the only thing that mattered. She acted like Wynter kidnapped you and was going to kill you.
“Some people raise their children with love, values, and a sense of community. Others, it seems, simply drag them up to 18 so they can wipe their hands of them without instilling any morals, values, or concern for others. It’s a ‘me first’ mentality, a lack of empathy that leads to tragedies like this. You didn’t just take Wynter’s life that night, you destroyed your future as well. You sold your soul, and if you believe in anything at all, you must know that there is a price to be paid for what you’ve done more than just serving time. Wynter was better than you then and she remains better than you today. She will always be better than you, but for our family, it’s time to hold our heads high, catch our breath, and begin the painful process of healing. There is nothing more we can do here, we will let nature take its course and let life unfold as it will. We want to thank the FBI, the multiple police departments, and the state authorities who treated us with dignity, and respect. While we have been less than satisfied with the federal prosecuting team, particularly the lack of communication, we are grateful for the kindness shown to our family by the state.”
Wynter’s paternal grandmother
Statement read on behalf of Wynter’s father, Almount ‘AJ’ Smith, was read into the record, and reads, in part:
“What I want to say, forget why, you know what you did, why you did it, and why you didn’t stop. A sweet, precious life that was going to be whatever she wanted to be no longer has the opportunity. Why? Because you thought you were something and you weren’t. You taken out your mistakes and left my daughter alone didn’t ever think about yours, but instead, focusing on something that she didn’t need you, or she never bothered you. You are a waste of space and never showed aggression towards me, but thinking because you put your hands on women and thinking you and I both are on the same level is crazy. I still remember when you sent inappropriate pictures and videos of your relationship when I didn’t even know your name and add with that then you had the nerve to text me saying that you are a different person and you wouldn’t harm my baby girl. You are a coward . . .”
Statement read on behalf of Wynter's father
Wynter’s paternal grandfather made the following statement during the hearing that reads, in part:
“Wynter was my first blood and my only grandchild. All I have is memories and images of her first day of going to kindergarten, elementary, middle, freshman day of high school, and graduation. Graduating from high school to pursue her life.
“I feel the system should have never let you out from day one with the incident in Monroe. Where was your probation officer? My understanding, two weeks before all this happened, you and Wynter’s mother, Wynter’s mom, got into a fight while Wynter was being held. If the police was called, why you wasn’t in jail.
“I really wish we could have met that November of 2022 when I called and wanted to come get Wynter because I feel like you would have seen the kind of person of me and AJ. I tell my kids that it’s a small world, you don’t know who know who. If I knew your name, we would not be here today. The reason why I say I wish I knew your name and you knew mine, is because I went to school with a couple of your family members.
“That’s all I have to say, but bottom line is what I heard people, statements, saying a coward, a monster, a killer. To me, you’re none of that, to me, there’s no word that describes you. I learned that you can’t hate nobody. I don’t hate you, but I hate what you done. As again, you took somebody special from me. My only grandchild. And as I see it, you only live a quarter of your life and you have not lived life. That’s nothing. You still got a long ways to go. I pray and pray and hope that you get the help that you need.”
Statement from Wynter's paternal grandfather
Victim impact statements can be heard in full in the video player at the top of this article.