A TRAGIC END TO THE SEARCH FOR A MISSING TWO YEAR OLD WINTER COLE SMITH. DETROIT POLICE FIRE AND
HER BODY IN AN ALLEY ON THE
CITY’S EAST SIDE. THE TODDLER
WAS ABDUCTED FROM HER LANSING
HOME SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER
INVESTIGATORS SAY HER MOTHER’S
EX-BOYFRIEND TOOK THE LITTLE
GIRL.
>> POLICE TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY
IN SAINT CLAIR SHORES IN THE
EARLY HOURS MONDAY MORNING.
THERE WAS NO SIGN OF WINTER AND
HE REFUSED TO TELL POLICE WHERE
SHE WAS. THEN LATE TONIGHT,
LANSING POLICE CONFIRMED THE
DISCOVERY.
>> RIGHT NOW, OUR HEARTS ARE
WITH THE FAMILY OF WINTER COLE
SMITH. WE SAW A COMMUNITY SHOW
ENDLESS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AND
ASSISTANCE AND HELP FINDING
WINTER. AND NOW WE NEED THE SAME
SUPPORT AND LOVE FOR THE FAMILY
AS THEY GRIEVE. THIS IS NOT THE
OUTCOME ANYONE HAD HOPED FOR.
>> OUR MARA MACDONALD IS LIVE ON
DETROIT’S EAST SIDE TONIGHT.
MARA, THE ALLEGED KIDNAPER IS
NOT TALKING, BUT HIS PHONE DATA
SURE TELLS A STORY.
>> KAREN. EXACTLY SOURCES ARE
TELLING US THAT IT IS THE DATA
DUMP FROM THAT PHONE THAT HAS
ESSENTIALLY BEEN QUARTERBACKING
ALL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT’S EFFORTS
ACROSS THE STATE AS THEY LOOK
FOR WINTER. IN ESSENCE, THEY ARE
LOOKING IN ALL THE SPOTS WHERE
HIS PHONE SHOWS HE WAS THERE FOR
MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES. THIS
SPOT HERE ON THE EAST SIDE IS
ONE OF THEM BEFORE WINTER’S BODY
WAS DISCOVERED, FEDERAL AGENTS
HAD BEEN OUT HERE FOR HOURS.
TRACES, PHONE DATA SHOWED HE
SPENT MORE TIME IN THIS AREA
NEAR 94, IN VAN DIKE. SO THEY
GOT OUT AND WALKED IT IN A GRID
PATTERN, LOOKING FOR WINTER.
THEY FOUND HER IN AN ALLEY
SHORTLY BEFORE 7:00 TONIGHT.
THIS IS NOT THE OUTCOME WE WERE
HOPING FOR.
>> AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO
WINTER’S FAMILY. THE LITTLE
GIRL’S BODY HAD BEEN DUMPED BOTH
DETROIT OFFICERS AND FEDERAL
AGENTS HAVE NOW BEEN OUT HERE
FOR HOURS PROCESSING THE SCENE.
>> OUR EVIDENCE RESPONSE TEAM IS
CURRENTLY PROCESSING THE SCENE.
>> OUR BEST PEOPLE ARE BACK
THERE TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO
BE AS RESPECTFUL AS POSSIBLE TO
WINTER AND HER FAMILY. THIS WILL
BE A THOROUGH AND DELIBERATE
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION. IT
WILL TAKE TIME TO CAREFULLY
COLLECT EVIDENCE THAT WE NEED TO
HELP BRING THE PERSON
RESPONSIBLE TO JUSTICE.
>> BACK HERE LIVE TONIGHT TRIES
TO REMAINS IN CUSTODY AT THIS
POINT. HE HAS ALREADY BEEN
CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE CHARGES
FOR ATTACKING OR ALLEGEDLY
ATTACKING AND STABBING WINTER’S
MOTHER. WE’RE LIVE ON DETROIT’S
EAST SIDE TONIGHT. I’M MARA
MACDONALD, LOCAL 4.
>> MARA, I KNOW IT’S EARLY IN
THE INVESTIGATION. THEY MAY NOT
BE SHARING MUCH INFORMATION. DO
WE KNOW ANYTHING IN TERMS OF
ANYTHING THEY MAY HAVE
COLLECTED? OR PERHAPS HOW MANY
HOURS THEY STILL ARE GOING TO BE
THERE TONIGHT THAT THEY’VE BEEN
OUT HERE FOR SEVERAL, KAREN.
>> SO THEY FOUND HER RIGHT
BEFORE 7:00. RIGHT NOW, IT’S
11:00. THEY SHOW NO SIGNS OF
SLOWING DOWN. AND I WILL SAY
THIS ABOUT WHAT THIS CRIME SCENE
LOOKS LIKE. AND I DON’T KNOW IF
EVERYBODY AT HOME GETS A TRUE
SENSE OF THE TOTALITY OF IT.
THIS SPANS AT LEAST FOUR
STREETS. IT’S A HUGE AREA THAT
THE FBI AND DPD HAS BLOCKED OFF.
SO THEY’RE NOT JUST LOOKING IN
THE ALLEY. THEY’RE LOOKING IN
THE ENTIRE IMMEDIATE AREA FOR
EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING. BACK TO
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, MARA.
>> WELL, WE’VE HAD MULTIPLE
CREWS ON SCENE TONIGHT. LET’S GO
NOW TO OUR JACQUELINE FRANCIS.
SHE’S LIVE WITH THE REACTION.
WE’RE ALREADY SEEING POUR IN
FROM THE COMMUNITY. JACQUELINE
>> YEAH, FIRST, I WANT TO JUST
GIVE YOU GUYS AN IDEA OF WHERE
WE’RE AT. I’M ABOUT TWO BLOCKS
DOWN FROM WHERE MARA WAS JUST A
MINUTE AGO. AGAIN, SHE SAID THIS
CRIME SCENE REALLY DOES SPAN
QUITE A FEW BLOCKS. WE GOT TAPE
ON THIS END AS WELL. AND THIS
SIDE IS WHERE WE SAW PEOPLE
GATHERING THROUGHOUT THE EVENING
AS THE NEWS WAS BREAKING ON
SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHERWISE. WE
SAW PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD
COMING OUT, EVEN DRIVING HERE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWING THIS STORY. THEY HAVE
BEEN SEARCHING FOR WINTER FOR
THE LAST THREE DAYS. WE’VE BEEN
TELLING YOU GUYS, POLICE AND THE
FBI ASKED FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, THEY PUT OUT THE
SUSPECT’S ROUTE SAYING KEEP YOUR
EYES OPEN, PLEASE LOOK AROUND.
IF YOU HAVE PROPERTY IN THIS
AREA AND I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME UP AND TOLD
US WE WERE SEARCHING FOR HER. SO
FOR THEM AND JUST FOR EVERYONE
THAT’S BEEN FOLLOWING THIS
STORY, SO MUCH EMOTION AND
DEVASTATION, ESPECIALLY THOSE
PEOPLE WHO DO LIVE IN THIS AREA,
HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR HER AND
FOUND OUT THAT THIS INDEED WAS
WHERE SHE WAS FOUND. I WANT YOU
TO TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT ONE
WOMAN HAD TO TELL US SINCE THE
BREAKING NEWS AS OF SUNDAY, I’VE
BEEN GOING OUT EVERY DAY WALKING
AND TO SEE IF I SAW THE BABY AND
THIS BREAK, MY HEART JUST REALLY
BREAK MY HEART THAT HE WOULD DO
SOMEBODY LIKE THIS, A TWO YEAR
OLD, TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH
ANYTHING.
>> IT REALLY BREAKS MY HEART.
I’M TEARFUL I THAT I CAN’T EVEN
STOP CRYING BECAUSE I FEEL FOR
THE MOM AND WHAT SHE HAS TO GO
THROUGH. I DON’T KNOW HOW THE
BABY DIED. LIKE, DID HE STAB HER
? WHAT HAPPENED LIKE AND WHAT
DID SHE HAVE TO DO WITH
ANYTHING? I DON’T UNDERSTAND.
THIS IS HEARTBREAKING.
>> THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT
REMAIN UNANSWERED TONIGHT. AS
POLICE HAVE SAID, THEY ARE GOING
TO REMAIN TIGHT LIPPED, NOT
WANTING TO JEOPARDIZE THE
INVESTIGATION, BUT WE’LL BE SURE
TO STAY ON THIS STORY AND BRING
YOU ANY DEVELOPMENTS. REPORTING
LIVE ON DETROIT’S EAST SIDE,
JACQUELINE FRANCIS, LOCAL 4.
>> ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING. THE
ENTIRE CITY WAS PRAYING FOR A
DIFFERENT OUTCOME IN THIS.
JACQUELINE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
REPORTING TONIGHT. MEANWHILE THE
MAN ACCUSED OF KIDNAPING WINTER
SMITH WAS FORMALLY CHARGED THIS
AFTERNOON. 26 YEAR OLD RASHAD
TRICE NOW FACES CHARGES OF
ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO MURDER
TWO COUNTS OF CRIMINAL SEXUAL
CONDUCT. HOME INVASION, ALONG
WITH SEVERAL OTHER CHARGES. IT
COMES JUST DAYS AFTER TRICE WAS
ARRESTED FOR KIDNAPING WINTER ON
SUNDAY IN LANSING AND THEN
LEADING POLICE ON THAT CHASE IN
SAINT CLAIR SHORES, WHERE HE WAS
ARRESTED. AND THOSE CHARGES WILL
LIKELY BE UPGRADED AFTER
TONIGHT’S DISCOVERY. MAKE SURE
TO STAY WITH LOCAL 4 AND
CLICKONDETROIT.COM THROUGHOUT
THE NIGHT FOR THE VERY LATEST
INFORMATION ON THIS STORY.
>> NEW AT 11, A MAN IS IN
CRITICAL CONDITION TONIGHT AFTER
HE WAS HIT WHILE HE WAS CROSSING
A ROAD IN OAKLAND COUNTY. THIS
WAS THE SCENE TODAY. IT WAS
ABOUT 430 IN THE AFTERNOON NEAR
MAPLE AND LHASA ROADS. POLICE
SAY A 62 YEAR OLD MAN WAS
CROSSING MAPLE WHILE TRYING TO
GET TO THE BLOOMFIELD COMMONS
SHOPPING PLAZA WHEN HE WAS
STRUCK BY A DRIVER. POLICE SAY
HE WAS NOT USING A CROSSWALK. HE
WAS RUSHED TO A HOSPITAL WHERE
HE IS ENLISTED IN CRITICAL
CONDITION. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR
IS COOPERATING WITH POLICE. THEY
SAY DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ARE NOT
BELIEVED TO BE A FACTOR IN THE
CRASH. THE INVESTIGATION IS
ONGOING.
>> PROSECUTORS DROP A SEXUAL
ASSAULT CASE AGAINST A FORMER
TEACHER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY
ASSAULTING STUDENTS LAST WEEK,
WAYNE COUNTY PROSECUTOR KYM
WORTHY DROPPED CHARGES AGAINST
JAMES BAIRD FOR TWO CASES IN
GARDEN CITY TODAY. CHARGES WERE
DROPPED FOR TWO OTHER CASES IN
WESTLAND. WORTHY SAYS THE
CHARGES WERE DISMISSED AFTER
FURTHER INVESTIGATION. BAIRD WAS
EMPLOYED AS A VISION SPECIALIST
AT TEACHING CHILDREN WHO ARE
BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION.
PROSECUTORS SAY THE CHARGES HAVE
BEEN DISMISSED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE, MEANING THEY CAN
REFILE THE CASES.
>> DETROIT POLICE NEED YOUR HELP
FINDING THE SUSPECTS IN A
SHOOTING THAT LEFT FOUR TEENS
INJURED. THE SHOOTING HAPPENED
JUNE 18TH ON ROSELAWN STREET ON
THE CITY’S WEST SIDE.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THE VICTIMS
WERE STANDING TOGETHER WHEN
SOMEONE STARTED SHOOTING AT
THEM. POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR
THIS GROUP OF FOUR PEOPLE IN
CONNECTION TO THE SHOOTING.
POLICE SAY THEY GOT AWAY IN A
STOLEN FORD EXPLORER. THAT
VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECOVERED. IF
YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION, CAN
CALL DETROIT POLICE OR CRIME
STOPPERS.
>> DETROIT POLICE ALSO ON THE
LOOKOUT FOR A SUSPECT IN A
DEADLY HIT AND RUN.
INVESTIGATORS SAY A 41 YEAR OLD
MAN WAS HIT AND KILLED WHILE
CROSSING MICHIGAN AVENUE. THIS
HAPPENED AROUND 1130 LAST
SATURDAY, SAY SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
SHOWS A DARK COLORED DODGE
CHARGER DRIVING AWAY. IF YOU
HAVE ANY INFORMATION, CALL DPD
OR CRIME STOPPERS AT ONE 800.
SPEAK UP. THERE’S A $100 MILLION
LAWSUIT TONIGHT AGAINST A
DETROIT GAS STATION WHERE A MAN
WAS SHOT AND KILLED.
>> POLICE SAY THERE WAS AN
ALTERCATION, AN OVER BEEF JERKY
BETWEEN THE CLERK AND ANTHONY
MCNAIRY AT EXXON MOBIL GAS
STATION ON WEST VERNOR HIGHWAY.
THE CLERK KICKED HIM OUT AND
LOCKED THE DOORS, BUT
PROSECUTORS SAY HE STILL USED A
HANDGUN TO FATALLY SHOOT THE 24
YEAR OLD THROUGH THE LOCKED DOOR
. ATTORNEYS FOR THE VICTIM’S
ESTATE SAY EXXON BEARS SOME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR CREATING AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE PROFITS ARE
MORE VALUED THAN CUSTOMER
SAFETY. THIS IS A CALL TO YOU.
>> EXXON MAY BE TAKE ONE LESS
PRIVATE TRIP TO A FANCY GOLF
COURSE AND COME HERE TO DETROIT
AND HELP US OUT. WE COULD USE
YOUR HELP. WE COULD USE LESS
PEOPLE DYING. WE COULD USE LESS
BULLETS IN YOUR STORES, LESS
GUNS IN YOUR STORES. LET’S TRY
SOME TRAINING. LET’S TRY SOME
SUPERVISION.
>> WHEN IS IT NOT BE COMMONPLACE
THAT WHEN WE GO TO A GAS STATION
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, HOODS, WE
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE CLERK
BEING ARMED AND BEING ARMED?
I’VE NEVER GONE TO WALMART AND
THE CASHIER THERE WAS ARMED.
>> THE GAS STATION CLERK IS