GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Rashad Trice, 26, had his very first appearance in a federal courtroom on Tuesday for his alleged role in the death of his ex-girlfriend’s daughter, 2-year-old Wynter Cole Smith.
In the preliminary hearing that occurred in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, July 11, federal Judge Ray Kent found probable cause to proceed with the charges against Trice. During the hearing, investigators revealed how they used technology to locate Trice with cell phone pinging and license plate readers during a statewide search.
Text messages from Trice’s phone were also revealed, including several believed to be addressed to family, which seem to show his mindset amid the chaos. On July 2, Trice is accused of kidnapping Wynter and assaulting her mother in Lansing before allegedly killing the girl and leaving her in a Detroit alley.
One text message sent by Trice reads: “I love y’all, but I have to end this.” Another one reads the chilling words, “She’s gone.”
Wynter’s body was found in Detroit three days after she went missing. It’s alleged that Trice strangled the 2-year-old with a phone charger.
Read: Wynter Cole Smith case: Everything suspected kidnapper, police said during car chase, arrest
On Tuesday, Trice waived his right to a detention hearing. If he is convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison on a death resulting from kidnapping charge.
Even though Michigan does not have the death penalty, if convicted, Trice is eligible to be executed under federal law.
Local 4 obtained exclusive video of the chase, crash, and arrest from the day Trice was located by police in St. Clair Shores. Click here to watch that video.