Mourners gather to honor slain 2-year-old: 'Everybody out here is heartbroken'

Detroit — They came, bearing colorful balloons shaped like stars and hearts, and a wooden cross, and wearing their grief on their faces for a vigil for little Wynter Cole Smith on Thursday, some as young as Wynter herself.

Showing the grief and anguish he felt about the slaying of the 2-year-old, Pastor Maurice Hardwick could only let out a yell.

Others in the gathering of more than 100 supporters who stood on the street where the girl was found 24 hours earlier joined him in their anguish.

"We are heartbroken," the Detroit activist said while clenching a megaphone. "Everybody out here is heartbroken."

Wynter's death, allegedly by the man who once had dated her mother, should infuriate everyone, Hardwick told the crowd.

"This is not us!" he shouted. "... We do not condone this B.S. right here."

Emotions ran high for the hour-long gathering after a harrowing week for residents across southeast Michigan who followed the investigation into Wynter's disappearance.

An Amber Alert on Monday sparked a statewide search by multiple local, state and federal police agencies and volunteers that ended at about 6:50 p.m. Wednesday when her body was found by the FBI in an area near Coleman A. Young International Airport on the city's east side. 

"We are heartbroken over the loss of our beautiful daughter, granddaughter, cousins, niece and big sister, Wynter Cole Smith," the family said in a statement. "Wynter's brief but bright life was taken from her unnecessarily; and we will grieve her death forever."

Her relatives called Thursday for tougher legislation so that suspects convicted of violent crimes remain in prison after the four-time habitual offender was charged in the assault of the mother of the 2-year-old girl, who police said he then kidnapped.

Rashad Trice, 26, has been charged with beating and sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend before police said he kidnapped Wynter. Officials have said the investigation remains open and investigators vowed that law enforcement "will see that the family gets the justice that they so deserve."

Trice has a violent criminal past that includes domestic violence, assault, and resisting and obstructing police in at least five Michigan counties, court records show.

According to Michigan Department of Corrections records, he is on probation from an August 2021 incident in which he pleaded guilty to five felonies, including assaulting/resisting a police officer and felonious assault. He's scheduled to remain on probation for those crimes until January, state records show.

Scores of neighbors at the vigil vowed to honor Wynter's memory Thursday night and to work so the community prevents another tragedy.

"Something has to change," said Tashina Jones, a Detroiter and mother who called for the gathering. "This is nonsense. ... What is going on in our society in our homes, that kids are being taken away at alarming rates?"

That question underscored many of the messages activists, neighbors and residents shared amid a sea of multiple colors of the star- and heart-shaped balloons. A large wooden cross was propped up between the crowd filled with men, women and children Wynter's age.

Many said her slaying demanded a response from the community. They should boost neighbor relations, do better to watch out for the most vulnerable and address issues like mental illness and domestic violence.

"We are one community," said Oliver Gantt, an activist. "We need to stand together."

The mourners cried, hugged, sang and shouted Wynter's name into the sky. They did so, they said, as a way to show the little girl who lived in Lansing now belonged to Detroit, too.

The turnout "reflects how tired are, how hurtful this situation was," said Tamika Merriman, who has worked in foster care and is a child welfare director at a city nonprofit. "We're just tired of losing our children."

Relatives said they're planning another vigil for 6 p.m. Friday at Knodell and Erwin, near the site where the girl's body was found.

A cousin, LaSondia Brown, attended Thursday's gathering to thank the community for an outpouring of support.

"We're so grateful for all of your love your condolences, your hugs, and most of all, we're thankful for your prayers," she told the crowd. "We're sorry that it took such a tragedy to bring all of us together. Such an ignorant tragedy, an innocent life taken away too soon. And it's painful. We ask that you continue to keep this mother, this father, this grandmother, this grandfather, everyone in his family lifted up in prayer."

More:Wynter Smith kidnap suspect had run-ins with multiple police agencies in recent years

More:How FBI found missing 2-year-old Wynter Cole Smith in Detroit

In a statement earlier Thursday, the family thanked law enforcement and the Dock Ellis Foundation, a nonprofit that helps find missing minorities, and added: "In remembering Wynter, we believe that is necessary to help make sure that this kind of tragedy never again touches any other family. Anywhere. We ask the state Legislature and Governor Whitmer to consider legislation that further ensures that multiple violent offenders remain in jail or prison as they are tragically a threat to all of us."

Earlier Thursday morning, neighbors gathered to pick up trash from the sidewalk and cut the grass near the alley where Wynter's body was found so the family would be comfortable when they visited.

"If I have to go get a weedwacker and do it myself, I will," said Sandra Swain, 56.

Swain moved to the neighborhood last year, and she said she knows the neighbors will support Wynter's family.

"I think when they visit this spot, it's going to hit them 10 times even more. And that's where we come in, to rally around to let them know that they are not walking alone," Swain said.

A memorial began on the street sign near the alley as neighbors stopped by to place balloons, decorations and toys in honor of Wynter.

"The main thing when they come, they are already dealing with a lot. I just want them to feel loved," Swain said. "She's a part of Detroit now, not just Lansing anymore."

Shanya Parrott, 26, lives in a house along the alley. She said kids play through the neighborhood around the alley all the time, so Wynter's death shocked everyone.

"We all have babies on this block. All of our kids play together. Every kid in this neighborhood is safe no matter what, and for this to happen has really shaken us because we do not play about kids over here," Parrott said.

The entrance to the alley where Wynter was found is an open lot that pedestrians can access from the sidewalk on Marcus Street. Parrott said she usually has the grass cut in the alley every two weeks, but the recent rainy weather prevented her from tending to it until Thursday. She said she has been thinking of Wynter and her mother since Wynter went missing and will continue to think about the family as she takes care of the neighborhood.

"We hate that this was the outcome. We were praying so, so hard that they located her. She is in our prayers," she said.

By Thursday morning, police had left the scene, though men who said they were FBI agents were interviewing neighbors, asking journalists to refrain from photographing them because they were undercover.

Wynter was reported missing from her Lansing apartment at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, after police say her mother was sexually assaulted and stabbed by Trice. The alleged victim managed to stab Trice in the lower abdomen during the attack, Lansing police Chief Ellery Sosebee said.

Wynter's 1-year-old brother was in the apartment during the assault. Police said Trice took Wynter, stealing his ex-girlfriend's white 2013 Chevrolet Impala and driving toward Metro Detroit. An Amber Alert was issued, and police throughout Michigan were told to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

Lansing police officials said Thursday that Trice had been released from the hospital and moved to the Ingham County Jail in Mason.

Ingham County authorities have charged Trice with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, home invasion, aggravated domestic violence and other crimes. Trice, who is being held without bond, is scheduled for a probable cause conference at 8:30 a.m. July 13 and a preliminary examination at 8:30 a.m. July 20 before 54-A District Court Judge Kristen Simmons.

ghunter@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-2134

Twitter: @GeorgeHunter_DN

Staff Writer Charles E. Ramirez contributed.