DETROIT — Wynter Cole Smith's "heartbroken" relatives said they're planning a vigil for the 2-year-old girl whose body was found in a field on the city's east side Wednesday following a statewide search by police and volunteers after she'd reportedly been kidnapped from her Lansing apartment.
The grieving family also called for tougher legislation to ensure that people convicted of violent crimes remain in prison, after the man police say kidnapped Wynter, 26-year-old Rashad Trice, was charged as a four-time habitual offender.
Trice was arraigned Wednesday from his hospital bed and charged with beating and sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend before police said he kidnapped Wynter, the victim's daughter. According to Michigan Department of Corrections records, he is on probation from an August 2021 incident in which he pleaded guilty to five felonies, including assaulting/resisting a police officer and felonious assault. He's scheduled to remain on probation for those crimes until January, state records show.
