This article contains information regarding the autopsy of the victim and manner of her death. Verdict possible tomorrow in Donald Smith trial A verdict could come as early as tomorrow in the case against the man charged with kidnapping, raping, and killing a local 8-year-old girl. Any hope of finding Cherish alive was over. Of course it is a violent act but he wanted the rape to be viewed as him inflicting rage and violence on Cherish as opposed to him viewing her as a sexual object. Even more disturbing than that was the fact he took Cherish on at least two occasions to the dressing room alone. Cherish was just eight years old andlived with her mother Rayne, Rayne's boyfriend and Cherish's two younger sisters in Jacksonville in Florida. In this particular case, Rayne made a mistake accepting a lift from Donald and as suchhas paid the ultimate price but there is only one predator to blame here and that is Donald Smith. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Top Dems push Fox News to stop promoting "propaganda" about 2020 election, Where things stand in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial, Watch Live: Closing arguments to begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh. That same man waited for Rayne outside the store. @ActionNewsJax, Dr. Rao explains fluids from body is taken to check for drugs, she is going through how an autopsy is performed. "Why in the world would he take my little girl?" Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Jurors Cry Over Autopsy Photos On Day 2 in the trial of Donald Smith, many female jurors cried when graphic autopsy photographs of Cherish Perrywinkle were shown in court Tuesday. It is up to the rest of us to take an even harder look at who is minding our children. The van itself was empty. Medical Examiner and forensic pathologist Valerie Rao took the witness stand in Cherish's murder trial on Tuesday and talked clinically about the extensive list of injuries she sustained. LIST: Six things we learned after two days of the Cherish Perrywinkletrial, ON TV: Full report from @BridgetteAnJax on CBS47 at 5 and 6, DAY 2:'She had a lot for a white girl,' Smith tells inmate in jailhouse recording. We pay for your stories! Tremendous force on her neck, such that she basically she could not breathe, she suffered swelling to her brain, as result of lack of oxygen to her brain," she died. The cashier later confirmed he saw themtalking in the car park for around 15-20 minutes. Smith manipulated the girl's mother into making her think he only wanted to buy clothing for Cherish Perrywinkle and her siblings. They all replied: Yeshttps://t.co/KORxv8xtHp pic.twitter.com/N7dzz8AmL1. It was a twenty minute or so walk away. She suffered severe injuries, abrasions and contusions all over he body after being strangled with a piece of clothing, tortured and raped. There was nosign of Cherish and the items Rayne had left in the van such as the stroller and items shebought at the Dollar General Store weremissing. Multiple jurors also cried, covered their mouths and turned away as the graphic photos were shown, CBS affiliate WJAX's Bridgette Matter reported via Twitter. Clickheretouploadyours. The evidence in this case was overwhelming. 2018. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. taking the girl from her family at a Northside Walmart, environmental factors like the presence of water where the remains were found, Florida Senator proposes bill to cancel Democratic Party in state, Georgia star Jalen Carter charged with racing in fatal wreck, Bartram Trail High School girls lacrosse player denied NIL opportunity, PCSO: No charges in case of mail carrier mauled by 5 dogs, Airport Authority discusses bringing new commercial flights to St. Johns County. Share currently playing on Facebook (Opens a new window), Share currently playing on Twitter (Opens a new window), Jacksonvilles Morning News with Rich Jones. Opening statements were held in the trial Monday. gs,washing her hair and shewanted to buy her some new clothes. This is the dress that was worn by 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle when she was killed. Eight-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle's body told the tale of her suffering before she was finally strangled to death. In court videos seen by news.com.au, Rao was testifying for the Medical Examiner's office and provided disturbing details over the little girl's death. Rayne reportedly had her head down as she listened to the call from the witness stand. The defense is moving for a judgment of acquittal. Dr. Wu said that Smith was just 9 when he suffered a traumatic brain injury (or TBI). Cherish was also raped prior to her death, and Rao says injuries resulting from that were severe. On Day 2 in the trial of Donald Smith, many female jurors cried when graphic autopsy photographs of Cherish Perrywinkle were shown in court Tuesday. He said he dressed as a maintenance worker and placed microphones in vents at the Duval County jail. As CrimeOnline previously reported,OnJune 21, 2013,a man approached a single, struggling mother,Reyne Perrywinkle, at the Dollar General store onEdgewood Avenue West in Jacksonville. Surveillance footage from Walmart shows Perrywinkle, wearing the same dress found near her body, walking out of the store with Smith, a registered sex offender. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. @ActionNewsJax, Inmate asks if "Cherish had a butt on her." To follow live onTwitter, please follow Bridgette Matter at @BridgetteANjax, LATEST: Graphic testimony details moments before Cherish Perrywinkle's death. Smith can be heard in the recording saying they're about 12 or13 years old. The June 2013 murder of Cherish Perrywinkle drew huge amounts of news coverage and public attention in Jacksonville, with a jury in 2018 finding Donald James Smith guilty and a judge sending him . The swift guilty. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.12'; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Posted by In Loving Memory of Angels onTuesday, January 31, 2017. Dr. Rao points to #DonaldSmith as the man she had photographed at the Police Memorial Building as part of this case #CherishPerrywinkle pic.twitter.com/v0Z8CjHOuT. The state rested after playing the recording. She says its a 1 in 35 quintillion match, meaning shes confident the only other person responsible could be an identical twin, if Smith had one. This week kicked off the trial for the Florida man accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering Perrywinkle. @ActionNewsJax, Closings are scheduled for tomorrow. His DNA was found on and inside Cherish's body and Cherish's DNA was found on his penis. Rayne would later say shethought it was fine as McDonalds was inside Walmart so really they were notleaving the store and there were plenty of people still around. After utilizingK-9 units, little Cherishs lifeless body was found in a nearby swampy ditch. taking the girl from her family at a Northside Walmart, environmental factors like the presence of water where the remains were found, SPOTLIGHT: Gate River Run kicks off first weekend in March, Jury visits crime scene before closings at Murdaugh trial, Push to require clergy to report abuse stalls in Mormon Utah, DTE Energy, Consumers Energy face power-outage challenges, You Decide 2023 - The Race For Jacksonville Mayor - Omega Allen Spotlight, You Decide 2023 - The Race For Jacksonville Mayor - Donna Deegan Spotlight, You Decide 2023 - The Race For Jacksonville Mayor - Frank Keasler Spotlight. The next day, the full autopsy was performed. After a lapse in time while discussing strategies to find the little girl, officers begancanvassing the area in search of the little girl. With the exception of the insect activity, Rao says they determined all of the injuries she suffered happened before her death. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. There was blunt force trauma to her head and ligature marks around her neck. Smith overheard Rayne explain to an . She sustained bruises to her legs, her arms, the hickey on her breast, and various scratches. Smith allegedly lured Perrywinkle's family to Walmart in 2013 with promises to buy food and clothing, then left with the girl. Rao says she also examined Smith at the Police Memorial Building, and he had injuries to his penis which related to trauma and were consistent with the timing of Cherishs death. The CCTV footage documents the last time the child was seen alive. Shed been badly beaten, raped, and murdered. So in reality she didn't have a lot of money to buy Cherish new clothes for her trip. The same potential juror indicated she wassqueamish about looking at gory photos, while another possible teared up and said she would lose it during a trial involving crimes against a child. A full profile could not be performed from the vaginal swab, however Smith was not excluded by the results, and Lee testified that- in all- there was still an almost non-existent chance it was anyone other than Smith. "I just need five minutes. #DonaldSmith #CherishPerrywinkle, Two women cover their mouth as next photo is shown. Rayne Perrywinkle, the victim's mother, also testified in court today. Medical Examiner and forensic pathologist Valerie Rao took the witness stand in Cherish's murder trial on Tuesday and talked clinically about the extensive list of injuries she sustained. Devastating footage was released during the trial last year showing the moment the young girl was approached while out with her mother and sisters. The images were so disturbing that the medical examiner giving evidence about the injuries sustained looked so traumatised that she needed a break in proceedings. ", Even the state attorney and Medical Examiner seem to be getting caught by the enormity of the emotion. Smith, the man accused of the 2013 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 8-year-old Cherish. The little girls half-naked body was found outside a church the following day. The court had to recess for 10 minutes and before attorneys, Rao, and the media were asked to leave the room Donald Smith's attorney asked for a mistrial on the grounds of her breakdown. She was able to develop a full profile on him. The murder was premeditated, cold, and calculated; 6 Cherish Perrywinkle was less than 12 years of age. The defense called for a mistrial over the interruption in testimony, but the judge denied the motion,Matter tweeted. Smith, now 64, was accused of murdering Cherish Perrywinkle after a series of events that began when he met her mother, Rayne Perrywinkle, at a Dollar General store. Rao estimates it would have taken three to five minutes for the girl to die in this manner. Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. He told me I was safe, she said in court on Monday. BEFORE a jury found Donald Smith guilty of the first degree murder of Cherish Perrywinkle, the man dubbed the "Walmart Monster" made a creepy request. Looking at her genital area and her anal area, she had so much trauma, the anatomy was totally distorted by the injury that she sustained both to her vaginal area and her anus, Rao testified. Her intuition was warning her about Donald. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. LIST: Six things we learned after two days of the Cherish Perrywinkle trial. When 20 minutes had passed Rayne began to worry. #DonaldSmith can be heard saying this to another inmate about a girl at the jail @ActionNewsJax, #DonaldSmith can be heard saying they're about 12, 13. With the exception of the insect activity, Rao says they determined all of the injuries she suffered happened before her death. One juror exhibited a strong reaction after viewing it, according to NBCs First Coast News. Please enter valid email address to continue. They are not hiding in shadows. I don't understand why he would leave right now unless he's going to rape her and kill her. When Rayne and her three girls were inside the van, Don drove to Walmart which was a ten minute drive away to meet his wife. 2023 Cox Media Group. Another woman crying @ActionNewsJax, State says it is difficult for even professionals to stay composed. Last year, video was released by the State's Attorney Office in Florida, US, showing horrifying CCTV footage where Cherish is approached, along with her mother and sisters, by Smith at a Walmart in Jacksonville, northeastern Florida. The blunt reasons some potential jurors are not being selected in the trial for the man accused of raping, killing 8yr-old Cherish Perrywinkle.. @ 5p @wjxt4 https://t.co/qSdMRzwH4b pic.twitter.com/A8SlpT0X4w, Joy Purdy (@WJXTJoyPurdy) February 7, 2018. It would have seemed like a natural thingto do as she had already travelled in that van to Walmart. Even Rao had to ask the court for a brief recess during her testimony. Protect yourself and those you love. Smith drove Perrywinkle, her daughter, Cherish, and her two other little girls to the Walmart off ofLem Turner Road, claiming that his wife would meet them there and help them shop for clothes. The court documents stated that the single mother agreed to both. At this stage , it had started to rain so Rayne had two choices - she could walk home in the rain or take a lift with Don to Walmart to buy some clothes for the girls. The state and defense have rested in the case against Donald Smith on Day 2 of his murder trial. Jury selection for the case that shocked the Jacksonville community and the nation is schedule to begin on February 12. @ActionNewsJax, "All her injuries she sustained were prior to her death." Viewing autopsy photographs of her battered body in court on Tuesday, she became teary and asked to take a break. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/CMCaOxtIdj, First witness of today, Jerome Bruton who found a blue stroller on his deceased uncles home. Don was wearing the same clothes as the day before-a black t-shirt and jeans and the lower half of his body was soaking wet. Wherever Cherish was, it involved water. The defense moved for a mistrial based on Raos request, but that was denied by the judge. She had injuries all over her body. It did not present any witnesses before resting its case shortly after the state. A series of swabbings were taken, as well as nail scrapings and clippings. When she realised she couldn't afford it, she put it back. On Monday, State Attorney Melissa Nelson described the horrible manner in which 8-year-old. It was a child that was abducted, it was something that the entire City of Jacksonville was concerned about, she says. Don didn't have a wife. The suspect could face the death penalty if convicted. In a desperate call to police, the girl's mother revealed how she fears the worst has happened to her daughter. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday. @ActionNewsJax, Judge asks Smith if he is 61 he says "old." The van was white with carpet inside and blinds on the window. September 06, 2019, "There's no tragedy in life like the death of a child. I need just 5 minutes.". Lee was able to get a full DNA profile of Smith from samples that were sent to the lab. @ActionNewsJax, In openings Melissa Nelson told jurors that Smith made comments about a group of girls in the jail. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. @ActionNewsJax #DonaldSmith, Lee says semen positive in rectal swab samples. At around 11 p.m., Smiths supposed wife was nowhere to be found. Cherish Perrywinkle CBS affiliate WTEV Smith allegedly lured Perrywinkle's family to Walmart in 2013 with promises to buy food and clothing, then left with the girl. While preparing to bring out photos taken during that autopsy, State Attorney Melissa Nelson questioned- and Rao confirmed- that they limited the amount of photos they would show, to those which would assist Raos testimony. She spent around 20 minutessearching Walmart, McDonalds and the car park. @ActionNewsJax, June 23, 2015 is when the recording equipment was placed in the Duval County jail. Donald James Smith faces charges offirst-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery. Things never get back to the way they were.". On June 21, 2013, Smith met eight-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle, her sisters, and her mother, Rayne, at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville. This case is the type of case that every parent dreadsso how did it happen? Shortly the recording from the jail will be played. Smith had been on the sex offenders list since 1993. Her injuries revealed defensive wounds which showed this little 67lbs 8 year old girl fou ght for her life but she was no match for the monster who had kidnapped her. Powered by Shopify. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/26zmR3z7uU, James Carter is the next witness, he was an officer with JSO. People reports that the defense tried in vain to keep graphic photos taken of the little girl, Cherish Perrywinkle, out of the upcoming trial, but Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper ruled that the jury will be allowed to see them. Stay with us as the trial moves forward. @ActionNewsJax, The recording is being played for the court #DonaldSmith @ActionNewsJax, Carter says he has heard Smith interact with other inmates. @ActionNewsJax, Next photos of Cherish's neck are shown. @ActionNewsJax. "I'm sorry I need to take a break" Says Rao. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up an appeal in a high-profile case involving an 8-year-old Jacksonville girl who was abducted from a Walmart and raped and murdered. @ActionNewsJax, Defense moves for judgement of acquittal. The shopping trip was very focused around the girls and Rayne stayed with them in the children's section. ", Smith is heard on the recording saying,"She ain't black, but she had a lot for a white girl.". For the DNA that was collected from Cherishs neck, Lee says it was a match to Smith. Rayne would later say shethought it was fine as McDonalds was inside Walmart so really they were notleaving the store and there were plenty of people still around. Smith, the man accused of the 2013 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle, decided to turn his back to the screen when autopsy pictures were shown Tuesday. Dr. Valerie Rao was. The mother said she hoped very much that his intentions were genuine and that he just wanted to help. Cherish had been strangled with such force that her eyeballs bled-the blood vessels burst in her throat, face and eyes. According to court documents . / CBS/AP. We did hear from Donald in this case. He then offered to buy the mother a $100 gift card andsomehow convinced her to ride with him to pick up the card at a nearby Walmart. A Florida man who was convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle has been sentenced to death for first degree murder and sexual battery convictions. Lee says semen was found in Cherishs mouth, vagina, and rectum, and other DNA was recovered from around her neck. Around the same time, officers received a tip that a suspicious van was seen aroundBroward Road. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. It's hard for everyone in the courtroom to hear about the crimes done against Cherish Perrywinkle. It took a jury just 14 minutes to find Smith guilty, after enduring countless graphic images of the 8-year-old victim's battered body, often leaving them in tears. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Lee was able to get a full DNA profile of Smith from samples that were sent to the lab. @ActionNewsJax, Dr. Rao had to also photograph Donald Smith @ActionNewsJax, While photos of Cherish's private parts were shown, Dr. Rao explained there was only a thin layer of tissue between the two areas. In court, Raynes 911 call to the dispatcher was played. The defense for convicted child killer Donald Smith the man who raped and murdered 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in Jacksonville in 2013 is working to keep him from getting a death . It was the 21st of June 2013. When she found out her daughter was dead, she collapsed. There was nosign of Cherish and the items Rayne had left in the van such as the stroller and items shebought at the Dollar General Store weremissing. @ActionNewsJax, Bruton getting emotional when he begins talking about the stroller. Live feed will be back after he is done. Recording of Smith "She ain't black, but she had a lot for a white girl." I dont want to be one of those parents who go through this.Perrywinkle told a 911 operator. He looked into my face and told me I was safe.. The June 2013 murder of Cherish Perrywinkle drew huge amounts of news coverage and public attention in Jacksonville, with a jury in 2018 finding Donald James Smith guilty and a judge sending him to Death Row. Verdict possible tomorrow in Donald Smith trial. Donald Smith's trial in the murder of Cherish Perrywinkle is set to begin Monday. In opening statements, State AttorneyMelissa Nelson told jurors that Smith made comments about a group of girls in the jail. @ActionNewsJax, Perrywinkle was the 1,034 case that arrived at the medical examiners office. @ActionNewsJax, We cannot show the public the jury, there is a white cloth blocking the cameras view, which explains the white you will at times see on our live stream. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/JtVFWHPQPu, Dr. Walerie Rao is the chief medical examiner in Duval County. Instead theyve been arguing that he wouldnt receive a fair trial in Jacksonville or its surrounding areas. He claimed hed buy the girls clothing with a gift card. At 11.20pm, Rayne called 911. #DonaldSmith has not turned around to look Cherish's autopsy photos, he is not looking at photos of himself either. @ActionNewsJax, Dollar Store purchases were also found in a trash can, Carter collected as evidence. Sign up below to be added to our mailing list for the latest news updates, access to exclusive contests, and more! She got into Don's van. @ActionNewsJax, Dr. Rao asks to take a break seeming overwhelmed by the photos. "That's right up my alley, right there, that's my target area," he's heard saying. Her injuries were inflicted before she died. #DonaldSmith. Jury asked to be back tomorrow at 9:15. He also had an unhealthy obsession with Cherish. During the trial, Cherish's injuries were described and shown to the jury. @ActionNewsJax, #DonaldSmith has looked at all evidence presented in this case, but his back is turned to the screen as Cherish's autopsy photos are shown. She didn't know Don at all and described him as a man with white hair who drove a white van. Swabs were also taken of her breasts, one of which had visible signs of a hickey, according to Rao. Rayne said Smith told her that his wife would meet them at Walmart. Smith was arrested 10 hours after the child was abducted after his vehicle was spotted by a police officer. Donald saw an opportunity that day when he saw Rayne with her three girls.