Michigan police confirmed Thursday that the FBI has taken over the investigation into the death of Wynter Cole Smith, the 2-year-old girl who was the subject of an AMBER Alert before her body was discovered on Wednesday.
Lansing Police Department Public Information Director Jordan Gulkis told the Lansing State Journal that the FBI is leading the homicide investigation. The toddler was found dead on the east side of Detroit three days after she vanished.
Rashad Trice was arrested shortly after Smith’s mother was stabbed and sexually assaulted on Sunday in Ingham County. Trice, who previously dated Smith’s mother, is believed to have abducted the toddler before killing her. He has not yet been charged in connection with her death.
Smith’s mother was reportedly released from the hospital before her daughter’s body was discovered. The Lansing State Journal reported that Trice was hospitalized after his arrest and remains there; he has not cooperated with the ongoing investigation.
Smith’a family said they have planned a vigil for Friday. In a statement issued to the Lansing State Journal, they urged state legislators to pass laws allowing for “multiple violent offenders [to] remain in jail or prison as they are tragically a threat to all of us.”
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