A community mourns Wynter Smith with a vigil and makeshift memorial

The yellow police tape was gone, but the weight of the tragedy that unfolded here lingered.

A community vigil Thursday evening — the first of two planned this week in Detroit not far from the east side neighborhood where the body of Wynter Cole Smith, the 2-year-old Lansing girl they were honoring, was found — more than a hundred people gathered near Knodel and Erwin to grieve, pray and shine a light on domestic violence.

Some cried, but being together seemed to bring them comfort.

"We came out here to show our support, give our condolences to the family," Aris Wilson, 38, of Southfield, told the Free Press. "It touches my heart when I see situations like this. It's sad. It's really sad. There's a 2-year-old right there. I can't imagine someone hurting a baby. You have to be a real sick individual to do that."

Another woman lamented, as the youngster Wilson pointed to swung from the arms of an adult, that was something Wynter would never be able to do again. And, they said, there are many other Wynters out there, children throughout Michigan who are at risk of being killed.

More: Records shed light on suspect connected to deceased toddler Wynter Cole-Smith

"I'm very emotional right now," said Almount Smith Sr., Wynter's grandfather, who, more than anything, seemed to fight back tears as he made his way through the crowd of strangers and local residents. "Honestly, I don't know how I'm feeling or what to feel."

Earlier in the day, the community made a small makeshift memorial with a "speed hump" sign.

At first, it consisted mostly of a small teddy bear holding a heart, a doll, and candles. Metallic pink and blue balloons fluttered in the wind. As more people arrived, however, it grew. Mourners added more balloons, flowers, a cross, and toys that Wynter might have liked.

It was a small tribute to small girl, whose life had been taken too soon, in such a tragic way.

There were passionate speakers who spread messages of love, and chants: "Who's baby? Our baby!"

As the sky darkened, they released dozens of pastel balloons, which gradually floated up toward the heavens.

'It's so sad, so messed up'

Some people, like 80-year-old Bill Heaney, who used to live in the area, drove through the neighborhood earlier in the afternoon to try to understand where the child was found. It was distressing, he said, to think that someone could do that to another human being — a child no less.

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

For those who could not make it to Thursday night's event or would like to attend another one, Wynter's family has planned a second vigil at 6 p.m. Friday. This one is set to be near First Church to the Redeemed at 9360 Van Dyke, also in Detroit.

After a long day of interviews, Wynter's paternal grandmother, Sharen Eddings, told the Free Press she was exhausted and that the week had been such an "emotional roller coaster." She was still in distress, adding that Wynter's death "just doesn't make sense."

Like Smith and Eddings, many Michiganders experienced a slew of emotions, from shock to hope to despair and then anger. An Amber Alert early Monday stirred people out of bed, and then they felt some optimism with the news that police and volunteers were out looking for Wynter.

Maybe they'd find her.

But by late Wednesday, that feeling turned to grief.

Thursday, many in the Detroit neighborhood where the body was found said they felt sadness, but also frustration and outrage for the heinous act that was committed, and for the fact that the neighborhood is so blighted that a toddler could have been hidden in the weeds.

"What is this world coming to that we take our anger out on innocent, little children," Demetrious Williamson, 36, said. "It's so sad, so messed up. Evil is the only way to explain it. I don't know what words to use to describe something like this."

How Wynter's parents met

Hours before the FBI found Wynter's body, Williamson said, his own children, ages 4, 5, and 7, were playing outside.

Not only did the slaying and stabbing damage one family, it hurt others all across the state, he said. Wynter's relatives will have to live with the pain of her death for the rest of their lives. And who knows, he added, what Wynter might have grown up to accomplish?

Eddings said that her son, Almount Smith Jr., 24, and Symari Cole, 22, met when they were kids living in Belleville. They would catch the church bus together. Years later, they announced that they were having a baby together, Wynter.

But they didn't stay together.

Eddings said she tried to stay out of their business.

Later, she said, Cole began dating Rashad Trice, and they also had a child together, a boy, but they broke up.

Police said Trice attacked Cole, took Wynter, and then headed in a stolen white, Chevy Impala toward Detroit. Eddings said Trice left his own son behind in Lansing and is convinced that Trice was angry Cole was leaving him and sought revenge.

Family seeks criminal justice reform

In addition to remembering Wynter, Eddings said she also hoped the vigils would be a way to thank law enforcement who tried so hard to find their baby, and also call attention to criminal justice reform, which might save others.

Trice had a history of violence.

On Monday, he was arrested in St. Clair Shores after a brief chase, which ended with him crashing into a police vehicle. He was taken to the hospital, and arraigned Wednesday, charged with several felonies, including criminal sexual conduct, home invasion and domestic violence. He is being held without bond.

The family, the grandmother said, is urging the Legislature to pass laws that would help ensure that violent offenders with multiple convictions not be released early from jail or prison.

"We would like to call on the governor and our local politicians to do something, so people can't get out and hurt somebody," Eddings said. "We do respect second chances, but if you don't respect your second chances, why should we."

More: 'No good news': Body of Lansing toddler Wynter Smith found in Detroit

More: Michigan shows grief for toddler Wynter Smith while police investigate her slaying

She cautioned that some fundraising campaigns that have popped up for Wynter may be scams. If people wish to help by offering donations, she said, she and her son are asking that they go to the Dock Ellis Foundation, which assists in searches for missing people.

The grandmother added the family is planning Wynter's funeral — and praying for her mom's recovery.

Free Press staff writer Jasmin Barmore contributed.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2-year-old Wynter Smith's family: 'We will grieve her death forever'