LANSING, MICHIGAN: The father of Wynter Cole-Smith, who worked hard to provide a better life for his daughter, broke silence after the two-year-old was discovered dead in Detroit, three days after she was abducted in Lansing. "I’m angry that she’s gone. I’m angry she had to deal with that. I’m upset that I didn’t get to see her. I’m upset I don’t get to be with her. I’m upset I wasn’t here for her," Ajay Smith said according to Fox 2 Detroit. "A lot of this just doesn't feel real," he added.
Lansing police said that federal investigators found the child at about 6.50 pm near the Coleman A Young Airport. It was earlier announced that the authorities were investigating the area of Erwin Avenue and Olympia Street in connection with the case. Although no additional information related to the case has been released, the police are investigating the incident as a homicide.
Who is Ajay Smith?
Ajay Smith, 24, is a senior and a football player at the University of Tennessee Martin. The devastated father, who is now grappling with losing Wynter, previously said he heard about his daughter's disappearance through a phone call from her mother shortly after she was taken. "When she called me, the first thing she said was, 'He took the kid.' She said, 'He took Wynter,'" he said at the time.
The accused has been arrested
Rashad Trice, 26, allegedly kidnapped Wynter on Sunday, July 2, after he stabbed her 22-year-old mother at a residence in the 3000 block of Beau Jarden Drive in Lansing. According to the authorities, Trice previously dated the woman. He was arrested early Monday morning, July 3, in St. Clair Shores while driving a white 2013 Chevy Impala that he reportedly stole from Wynter's mother. The child was however not in the vehicle, police said. The FBI said that Wynter's 1-year-old brother was at the residence at the time of the attack but was fortunately unharmed.
What is the chargesheet against the accused?
Trice was arraigned on the charges of assault with intent to murder, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, aggravated domestic violence-second offense, unlawful driving away of an automobile, and felonious assault on Wednesday. All the charges are in connection with the alleged assault of Wynter's mother. He is likely to face more charges in connection with Wynter's death.
Wynter's grandfather and grandmother speak up
"My son, he worked so hard to go to college, to play football, so he could live a dream for him and Wynter," said Almount Smith Sr, Ajay's father and Wynter's grandfather. "I used to keep some stuff and then tell her mom that I lost it, I forgot to pack it. And I’m glad I did, so I can hold onto it," said Sharren Eddings, Wynter's grandmother. "How could somebody harm a little child like that? How could you see yourself like on top of a child or hurting a child or whatever he did to her, we don’t know, but he killed her," she added.
