Rashan Maleek Trice sentenced to life in prison for Wynter Cole-Smith’s murder

On Friday, Rashad Maleek Trice of Lansing was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2023 murder of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith.

He was also given a concurrent sentence of 60-90 years’ incarceration for the violent assault of Wynter’s mother. He pled guilty in July to one count each of First-Degree Murder and First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct.

On July 2, 2023, Trice sexually assaulted and stabbed his former girlfriend and kidnapped her daughter, Wynter, from Lansing. Trice then murdered the toddler before resisting arrest and ultimately being apprehended in St. Clair Shores.

Wynter was discovered in a Detroit alley after a three-day search involving multiple law enforcement agencies from Lansing to Detroit, Michigan State Police, and agents from the FBI.

”Nothing can bring Wynter back, but I hope knowing that Mr. Trice will spend the rest of his life behind bars, without the need for a lengthy trial, offers some solace to her loved ones,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. “Thanks to the tireless work of law enforcement and prosecutors in my office, the man responsible for these horrific acts will never again endanger our communities.”

The Department charged Trice with 20 counts involving the incident and ensuing police pursuit in July 2023 after announcing an agreement between the Attorney General, Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido, and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to consolidate the many charges into one prosecution.