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Wynter Cole-Smith Case
Wynter Cole-Smith case.
An attack, an amber alert and days of searching: Timeline of Wynter Cole-Smith’s abduction and discovery.
11:19pm Sunday
Police said it all began when Rashad Maleek Trice, 26, of Detroit went to Wynters home in the 3000 block of BeauJardin Drive in Lansing.
Trice is accused of sexually assaulting and stabbing Wynter’s 22-year-old mother, who is also his ex-girlfriend.
The woman was stabbed multiple times before she was able to escape the house and call for help from a neighbour, authorities said.
11:30pm Sunday
Wynter was officially reported missing at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, when officers showed up to the Lansing home and realised she was gone.
Trice had taken the mother’s white 2013 Chevrolet Impala and disappeared with the 2-year-old girl, according to authorities.
2am Monday
An Amber Alert was officially issued for Wynter around 2 a.m. Monday.
The alert included information about Trice and the stolen car.
Midnight to 4am Monday
FBI agents and police spent days trying to piece together where Trice went after leaving Lansing.
They believe he got on the freeway and arrived in Metro Detroit just after midnight.
He was in the city of Detroit around 1:10 a.m., according to authorities.
Officials believe he left Detroit around 2:40 a.m. and traveled around the east side.
4:45am Monday
St Clair Shores police said they spotted the stolen Impala around 4:45 a.m. Monday in the area of 9 Mile Road and Harper Avenue.
When an officer tried to pull him over, Trice sped off, according to authorities. He crashed into another patrol car in the area of Little Mack Avenue and 10 Mile Road, police said.
Police said Trice actively resisted arrest while being taken into custody at the crash scene. He was brought to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries from the crash, according to officials.
Wynter was not with Trice when they took him into custody.
4pm Tuesday
Almost 36 hours after Trice’s arrest, authorities were still trying to determine what happened to wynter
At 4 p.m. Tuesday, FBI agents and Lansing police held a news conference to ask the public for help.
During that briefing the FBI announced a $25,000 reward for information that led to Wynter’s discovery. Police also unveiled more specific information about the route Trice took between Lansing and St. Clair Shores.
2:15pm Wednesday
Prosecutors announced charges against Trice in connection with the attack on his ex-girlfriend.
He was arraigned Wednesday in the hospital while under the watch of Lansing police officers.
Trice is charged with assault with intent to murder, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, aggravated domestic violence (second offense), unlawful driving away of an automobile, felonious assault, and two counts of first-degree criminal sexual assault.
He’s being charged as a violent habitual fourth offender and in custody without bond.
Officials said additional charges linked to Wynter are possible, pending the rest of the investigation.
6:50pm Wednesday
Detroit police said they were performing a grid search between I-94 and Van Duke Avenue when they discovered Wynter’s body in an alley near Olympia Street and Erwin Avenue on the city’s east side.
She was found nearly 70 hours after the abduction.
Police told Local 4 that Trice was not at all helpful throughout the search. But his cellphone revealed where he had gone between the attack in Lansing and his eventual arrest in St. Clair Shores. Officials went through the data on his phone and identified various areas around Metro Detroit where he drove and spent time.
One of those areas was I-94 and Van Dyke Avenue.
FBI agents and Detroit police officers spent 4-5 hours on the grid search before finding Wynter’s body in the alley
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This discussion was modified 9 months, 2 weeks ago by
abbieeats_.
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This discussion was modified 9 months, 2 weeks ago by
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3 Replies
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Hi @abbieeats_ – thank you for referencing this case. We currently don’t have a “solved” category, and perhaps something we should explore. Are you looking to contribute to this case on an ongoing basis? From what I read, it seems this case has a pretty definite resolution without much to add. Eager to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
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Hey, oh sorry I thought it was just like true crime cases. Didn’t know it was just unsolved. So about that!
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No worries at all! I actually think having a solved case category would be helpful. Anyone else agree?
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