Man pleads guilty to murder of Wynter Cole-Smith • Michigan Advance

Rashad Maleek Trice pleaded guilty to attacking his ex-girlfriend and killing her 2-year-old daughter, Wynter Cole-Smith, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced in a press release Monday.

Trice was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and sexual abuse, the former of which carries a sentence of life in prison without parole.

“The scars left by Mr. Trice’s horrific and brutal crime spree will forever be etched on the lives he destroyed,” Nessel said in the press release. “While nothing can ever fully heal the grief of Wynter’s family and loved ones, I hope today’s plea can be a step toward healing.”

Trice assaulted his ex-girlfriend, stabbed her, and kidnapped and murdered her daughter in Lansing on July 2, 2023. He was arrested in St. Clair Shores in Macomb County after resisting arrest.

The indictments from the state and county governments in Lansing and Detroit were consolidated into one indictment.

“By consolidating the charges and obtaining a life sentence through a guilty plea, we have ensured the safety of the community while protecting the surviving victims from the trauma of a lengthy trial,” Nessel said.

Trice’s sentencing is scheduled for August 16 in Lansing.