Michigan AG pursues murder charges against man accused in Wynter Cole-Smith's death

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office will take over the state prosecution and pursue murder charges against Rashad Maleek Trice, the man accused in the kidnapping and death of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith.

Trice faces kidnapping and sexual assault charges, among others, across multiple local jurisdictions in connection to the death of Wynter Cole-Smith and assault of her mother last week.

"The department has begun the process of reviewing police reports for potential murder charges," Nessel's office said in a statement Thursday.

Nessel said she is working with Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido, and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, to review current charges against Trice, which will be reissued by her office.

“This is a tragic case, and by consolidating the prosecution into one venue, we are recognizing the hardship the surviving victim and family continue to face,” Nessel said in a statement.

Authorities say Wynter was taken from her home by Trice and discovered deceased in a Detroit alley on July 5, ending a three-day search involving multiple law enforcement agencies from Lansing to Detroit.

Trice allegedly assaulted and stabbed his former girlfriend, kidnapped her daughter, Wynter, and then stole her mother’s car to flee. Federal authorities have said they believe Trice killed the toddler, possibly with a phone charging cord, and left her body in Detroit before his capture in St. Clair Shores.

Nessel's office said the single prosecution on state charges would help "minimize the traumatizing effect that multiple trials and obligations to testify would necessitate on witnesses, surviving victims, and all loved ones of Cole-Smith and her mother." In their own statements, top prosecutors in Macomb, Ingham and Wayne counties said they agreed with the statewide strategy.

More: Nessel expected to file murder charges in Wynter Cole-Smith death, attorneys tell judge

Earlier Thursday, Ingham County prosecutor and an attorney for the man charged with kidnapping a Lansing toddler that sparked a statewide search told a judge a murder charge likely will be filed by the state Attorney General’s office.

In total, Trice faces charges in three jurisdictions − eight including assault with intent to murder in Ingham County, as well as eight others in Macomb County and two charges including kidnapping filed by federal prosecutors.

No plea was entered by Trice at his hearing on the charges in Lansing Thursday.

"We would like to leave the preliminary exam on at this point," Ingham County Public Defender Keith Watson, who is representing Trice, told Simmons. "However, Mr. Trice is prepared to waive his right to conduct a preliminary examination within 21 days considering the extensive amount of discovery in the case, and considering the fact that there appears to be some machinations relating to the Attorney General's office."

More: Suspect in slain toddler's disappearance accused of striking a child last year

Trice is accused of stabbing and sexually assaulting Wynter's mother, with whom he had a previous relationship, the night of July 2 at her Lansing residence, before kidnapping Wynter, leaving her 1-year-old brother behind, and fleeing in a car police said he stole. Trice was arrested July 3 in St. Clair Shores after a police chase in which he crashed into an officer's car. Wynter was not with him; her body was located days later near Coleman A. Young International Airport in Detroit.

On Tuesday, Trice appeared with his court-appointed attorneys in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids for a preliminary hearing on federal charges of kidnapping a minor and kidnapping resulting in death.

More: Suspect charged in kidnapping of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith

U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent expressed some skepticism on whether there was enough evidence for the federal government to prosecute Trice, but ultimately ordered the case to a grand jury. The grand jury, which could convene in the next three weeks, according to prosecutors, will determine if there is sufficient evidence to send Trice to a full jury trial.

"The facts provide plenty of evidence to establish probable cause," Kent said, before binding Trice over.

Trice is being held at the Newaygo County Jail.

Detroit Free Press reporter Arpan Lobo and Lansing State-Journal reporter Krystal Nurse contributed to this story.

Contact Matthew Dolan: 313-223-4743 or msdolan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @matthewsdolan

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Man accused of Wynter Cole-Smith's death could face murder charges