Oakland County man charged with child abuse, torture after 3-year-old girl dies Man in custody, denied bond
HOLLY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – An Oakland County man has been charged with child abuse and torture after a 3-year-old girl was pronounced dead last weekend .
Samuel Lester Smart is being held in the Oakland County lockup after a judge denied his bond. He’s charged with beating Trinity Chandler, who was pronounced dead on Saturday in Holly Township .
READ : Family says Child Protective Services had been called prior to death of 3-year-old Holly Township girl
Family members said Trinity’s mother was working an overnight shift at a nursing home when she got a text from her Smart. They said Smart reported that Trinity wasn’t waking up and he took her to a nearby fire station.
An Michigan State Police investigator told the court that there is video of the little girl being abused. Just a day before she was pronounced dead, Child Protective Services did a welfare check on her.
Trinity Chandler is Ronda Osterberg’s great-niece.
“They failed her. They failed her big time,” Ronda Osterberg said. “There were two black eyes, there was a bruise on her cheek -- CPS closed the case.”
The family said they’re devastated.
Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
About the Authors Kayla Clarke headshot
Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.
911 call from Sherrone Moore's wife after firing ▶ 1:58
911 call from Sherrone Moore's wife after firing
The hidden danger of that first call to your insurance company ▶ 0:46
The hidden danger of that first call to your insurance company
Maria Scott's quick thinking prevents school tragedy ▶ 1:08
Maria Scott's quick thinking prevents school tragedy
Detroit Mayor Sheffield formally takes oath of office ▶ 3:26
Detroit Mayor Sheffield formally takes oath of office
Romulus shooting suspect disrupts court, cusses out judge ▶ 1:02
Romulus shooting suspect disrupts court, cusses out judge
Oakland County man honored for life-saving rescue on Bush Lake in Holly ▶ 0:45
Oakland County man honored for life-saving rescue on Bush Lake in Holly
Ypsilanti standoff damages home, disrupts local services ▶ 0:43
Ypsilanti standoff damages home, disrupts local services
Cat filter disrupts Michigan court hearing ▶ 0:23
Cat filter disrupts Michigan court hearing
Hearing in Washtenaw County foster family killings ▶ 1:37
Hearing in Washtenaw County foster family killings
Acker's death ruled accidental; USPS safety questioned ▶ 0:44
Acker's death ruled accidental; USPS safety questioned
Detroit sees lowest murder rate since 1965 ▶ 0:37
Detroit sees lowest murder rate since 1965
Hearing on Mario Willis arson case continues ▶ 1:22
Hearing on Mario Willis arson case continues
They were filming inside a business. That led to a confrontation ▶ 0:36
They were filming inside a business. That led to a confrontation
Armed man arrested at Romulus Middle School ▶ 2:27
Armed man arrested at Romulus Middle School
US/Canada icebreaking effort aids Great Lakes ▶ 0:31
US/Canada icebreaking effort aids Great Lakes
3 Preventable Ways Insurance Companies Use to Deny Your Claim.mp4 ▶ 0:51
3 Preventable Ways Insurance Companies Use to Deny Your Claim.mp4
Powerful winds cause Lake Erie to flee Ohio, Michigan ▶ 0:56
Powerful winds cause Lake Erie to flee Ohio, Michigan
Record-breaking snowfall hits Upper Peninsula ▶ 0:24
Record-breaking snowfall hits Upper Peninsula
Firefighter injured as crews battle fire at Southgate motel ▶ 0:54
Firefighter injured as crews battle fire at Southgate motel
From the Vault: Christmas shopping in Detroit, 1973 ▶ 1:05
From the Vault: Christmas shopping in Detroit, 1973
U.S. beef prices soar over past year ▶ 0:43
U.S. beef prices soar over past year
Michigan players react to Sherrone Moore situation ▶ 1:23
Michigan players react to Sherrone Moore situation
Bell ringer shot dead at Kroger; suspect arrested ▶ 0:39
Bell ringer shot dead at Kroger; suspect arrested
Court docs: Moore's arrest tied to ended relationship ▶ 0:49
Court docs: Moore's arrest tied to ended relationship
Hero cop saves 1-year-old in Sterling Heights ▶ 0:58
Hero cop saves 1-year-old in Sterling Heights
Previous photo Next photo