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

Hundreds of Michiganders expressed their grief through social media in emojis and words. They also offered their condolences and prayers for 2-year-old Wynter Cole Smith’s family, who now must cope with the Amber Alert's tragic outcome.

The frantic, three-day search came to an end in Detroit, nearly 100 miles from Wynter’s Lansing home.

Investigators acknowledged the toddler — who next-door neighbor Antonio Grimaldi said he'd seen many times, playing outside in the sunshine — was dead. Many people said the news made them cry, adding that Wynter is now among the angels.

"Sending my deepest sympathies to the family," Amanda Helfer posted early Thursday in a Facebook comment. "Stay strong. Thank you to all of the individuals involved in helping to find her. Let’s all show this family the love and support they deserve. RIP sweet baby. Fly high."

At the state capital, Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee confirmed late Wednesday that the whispers that began circulating earlier were true: Wynter’s body had been found, just before 7 p.m., by Detroit police officers on the city’s east side.

The FBI started coordinating the search this week as it became clear more law enforcement resources would be required to find Wynter. And in Detroit, FBI Acting Special Agent-in-charge Devin Kowalski made some additional remarks.

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

"This is not the outcome we were hoping for," Kowalski said late Wednesday, flanked by Detroit Police Chief James White as journalists gathered under the darkening sky to report the update. "Our hearts go out to Wynter’s family."

Kowalski did not stick around to discuss it, saying much more investigation was required.

The area where Wynter’s tiny body was found — near Knodell and Erwin streets, east of Van Dyke and north of Harper — become a crime scene, cordoned off with bright yellow police tape, as detectives sought evidence.

Police agencies and volunteers from all over lower Michigan had searched for Wynter. Police said 26-year-old Rashad Trice likely abducted Wynter, driving her in a stolen white car all the way to Detroit and through the suburbs.

In Lansing, police trudged through fields and neighborhoods, and looked down from high above in helicopters and with drones. They used modern science to track Trice’s cell phone and the route he took.

Trice was arrested Monday and arraigned earlier Wednesday in a metro Detroit hospital where he was taken for injuries after hitting a police car in St. Clair Shores. He was charged with several felonies tied to what police said was the stabbing and assault of Wynter’s mom, Symari Cole, an ex-girlfriend of Trice.

Cole was taken to a Lansing-area hospital, treated and released.

"It is easy to judge humanity on the actions of one evil person," the Michigan State Police tweeted. "I refuse to do so, as should you. We are better than the actions of one evil person. May God bless and keep you Wynter. We wish your family peace. We are heartbroken."

Investigators eventually will turn over their findings to prosecutors who will seek justice for Wynter’s death. But even if there is a conviction — whatever the punishment — it likely will be little consolation to those who had held on to hope until the end.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or [email protected]. Reporters Jasmin Barmore, Bill Laytner, Aurora Sousanis, Nour Rahal, Susan Tompor and Krystal Nurse contributed.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wynter Smith found dead: Michigan mourns over fate of missing toddler