He had just been released from prison some three weeks earlier. There was no kicking or screaming. The next morning, Perrywinkles body was found half-naked and shoved under a fallen tree in a marshy area near Jacksonville. @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. 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. Cherish went with him. The evidence, some of it. ", by Chilling Crimes Cherish had been strangled with such force that her eyeballs bled-the blood vessels burst in her throat, face and eyes. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. It was testimony that not only caused several jurors to shed tears, but led to the Chief Medical Examiner asking for a brief recess as she appeared to fight back emotion as well. We pay forvideostoo. Wherever Cherish was, it involved water. 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. The suspects criminal record dated back to 1977. He told her he waswaiting for his wife andthat they had a $150gift card for Walmart that he would be happy for her to use to buy clothes for thegirls. They obtained surveillance footage from Walmart and watched Smith exiting the store with Cherish following closely behind. Rao estimates it would have taken three to five minutes for the girl to die in this manner. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. A number of troublingincidents happened inside Walmart. Sign up below to be added to our mailing list for the latest news updates, access to exclusive contests, and more! Swabs were also taken of her breasts, one of which had visible signs of a hickey, according to Rao. @ActionNewsJax, Bruton getting emotional when he begins talking about the stroller. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. She wanted to buy Cherish a little white dress with red hearts on it . 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. She said that she did not want to appear too overprotective. He also had an unhealthy obsession with Cherish. Stay with us as the trial moves forward. Medical Examiner Valerie Rao said that the girls injuries were extremely shocking, and the photos apparently show the damage that 61-yearDonald James Smith allegedly inflicted upon the 8-year-old in 2013. Defense is looking for a mistrial because Rao asked for a break. "That's right up my alley, right there, that's my target area." #DonaldSmith looking straight or down, emotionless, as the recorded conversation plays where he says "I'd like to run in to her at Walmart" when talking about 12-year-old girls that walked through the Jail #CherishPerrywinkle pic.twitter.com/Itlhe9RIud. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. The medical examiner said that Cherish Perrywinkle died from being strangled, probably with a piece of clothing. Please enter valid email address to continue. With the exception of the insect activity, Rao says they determined all of the injuries she suffered happened before her death. 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. by Chilling Crimes Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Cherish was also raped prior to her death, and Rao says injuries resulting from that were severe. Jacksonville Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Valerie Rao testified that Cherish Perrywinkle sustained severe injuries from being strangled and raped. The next day, the full autopsy was performed. 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. 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. 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. The convicted murderer offered to buy Rayne a dress along with a $150 gift card. Cherish was wearing purple flip flops when she disappeared. Cherish's injuries gave aninsight into some of the brutality and horror Donald had inflicted on her. They later identified Smith as a convicted sex offender who had only been out of jail for around three weeks before he reportedly preyed upon the Perrywinkle family. It took a Jacksonville jury less than 15 minutes to find Donald James Smith, 61, guilty of kidnapping, raping and murdering 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in Florida in 2013. He picked out some shoes for her to wear, really inappropriate shoes for an eight year old child as they were women's highshoes. @ActionNewsJax, Dr. Rao is being tendered as an expert witness. The suspect could face the death penalty if convicted. Cherish Perrywinkle was an 8-year-old girl from Jacksonville, Florida who was abducted from a Walmart on June 21, 2013. Donald had gagged her so severely that her gumshad bled, he raped and sodomised her. 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. Police were clear about one thingthough. But the most extensive injuries were to her genitalia which was torn, swollen, clearly abused, and distorted. Cherish's half-naked body, still wearing the same orange dress she is seen wearing at Walmart, was found in front of a church the next day. #DonaldSmith @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/yQKIvhBhIy, Yes, Florida has the most affordable 4 year college tuition in the country, Man who pulled trigger in murder of Jacksonville 13-year-old arrested, sheriff says, Weather is 95% favorable for a liftoff tonight, but teams are keeping an eye on weather along Dragons ascent corridor, Local Weather: Day 9 of 80-plus degree afternoons; much-needed rain by late Friday into Saturday, RELATED | Jury hears recordings of Donald Smith from jail about young girls: 'That's right up my alley'. Lee says semen was found in Cherishs mouth, vagina, and rectum, and other DNA was recovered from around her neck. When she realised she couldn't afford it, she put it back. #CherishPerrywinkle pic.twitter.com/OtiXxh3qm7. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Don didn't have a wife. Then he did. Dati relativi al dispositivo e alla connessione a Internet, come l'indirizzo IP, Attivit di navigazione e di ricerca durante l'utilizzo dei siti web e delle app di Yahoo. @ActionNewsJax, Detective explains a confidential informant said #DonaldSmith was speaking to another inmate using air vents at the jail @ActionNewsJax, DNA expert says the DNA found on Cherish matches #DonaldSmith @ActionNewsJax, Lee is explaining to the jury #DonaldSmith DNA profile. Jury selection for the case that shocked the Jacksonville community and the nation is schedule to begin on February 12. @ActionNewsJax, Defense moves for judgement of acquittal. Cherish Perrywinkle was abducted from a Florida Walmart before being sexually assaulted and strangled until her eyes bled by a man who convinced her he was just a Good Samaritan. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Dr. Valerie Rao was. 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. Petechiae are broken blood vessels that occur above where pressure is applied with enough force to keep blood from flowing. "Cherish did not die quickly, and she did not die easily," State Attorney Melissa Nelson told the jury a day earlier. 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. 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. She suffered severe injuries, abrasions and contusions all over he body after being strangled with a piece of clothing, tortured and raped. Even more disturbing than that was the fact he took Cherish on at least two occasions to the dressing room alone. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Recording of Smith "She ain't black, but she had a lot for a white girl." 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. However, they never returned. WOKV and Action News Jax continue to follow all of the developments from inside of the courtroom. #DonaldSmith @ActionNewsJax, State asks no margin for error? JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It took a jury 14 minutes Wednesday to convict a 61-year-old Florida man of abducting, raping and murdering 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle, CBS affiliate WJAX reports.He now . 2023 Chilling Crimes. #DonaldSmith. As Rayne didn't have a car and didn't drive, she walked with the girls and their stroller to the store. Donald James Smith has been found guilty of the murder and rape of Cherish Perrywinkle. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Rao had seen and conducted "thousands of autopsies" and had been tendered as an expert witness in this case and hundreds of others. Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app. The last of the footage shows the little girl being led across the store's carpark. Jacksonville, FL Editor's note:The details of this testimony can be considered graphic and difficult for some readers. @ActionNewsJax, In openings Melissa Nelson told jurors that Smith made comments about a group of girls in the jail. On cross-examination, the defense confirmed there was no foreign DNA under Cherishs finger nails. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. #DonaldSmith has not turned around to look Cherish's autopsy photos, he is not looking at photos of himself either. We pay for your stories! Donald had gagged her so severely that her gumshad bled, he raped and sodomised her. Hours later, at 11.18pm that evening, the girl's mother Rayne called 911 desperately looking for the child, whom she says was last seen in the company of Smith. Another woman crying @ActionNewsJax, State says it is difficult for even professionals to stay composed. @ActionNewsJax, #DonaldSmith has not turned around to look Cherish's autopsy photos, he is not looking at photos of himself either. Smith's team argued that the pictures' unduly Donald Smith, 61, has appeared in court charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and rape of the eight-year-old girl in June 2013. 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 cause of death, Rao determined, was mechanical asphyxia. It was a child that was abducted, it was something that the entire City of Jacksonville was concerned about, she says. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. "She had so much trauma the anatomy was totally distorted by the injury she suffered," forensic pathologist and Jacksonville chief medical examiner Dr Valerie Rao said as jurors covered and closed their eyes. In opening statements, State AttorneyMelissa Nelson told jurors that Smith made comments about a group of girls in the jail. The injuries that poor kid suffered was absolutely horrific and as you said, don't go googling details of . As jurors . 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. Don later joined them inside the store. There were many areas of injury uncovered during the testimony, from scrapes and bruises that Rao believes were the result of Cherish being transported to where her body was found, to ant bites that happened after her death. Smith can be heard in the recording saying they're about 12 or13 years old. Todays testimony was clearly difficult for some of the jurors, with many openly shedding tears as the autopsy photos were put in front of them. Her body was found in the water , weighted down by bricks and debris and under a tree. #DonaldSmith pic.twitter.com/khubusMeBl. There was a hickey on herright breast. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/nfpLo3x45s. 2023 Cox Media Group. Jury is hearing moments when she reported her 8-year-old daughter had disappeared with #DonaldSmith. A medical examiner who conducted the autopsy on 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle became emotional in court Tuesday as she discussed the last moments of the young girl's life. @ActionNewsJax, Rao explaining photographs, we will not see them, only Dr. Rao, the lawyers, and jury. Police went to the area and looked for water. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/CMCaOxtIdj, First witness of today, Jerome Bruton who found a blue stroller on his deceased uncles home. Even Rao had to ask the court for a brief recess during her testimony. A series of swabbings were taken, as well as nail scrapings and clippings. gers in McDonalds. @ActionNewsJax #DonaldSmith, Lee says semen positive in rectal swab samples. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/3E0kGk8lpB, State says it is difficult for even professionals to stay composed. @ActionNewsJax, DNA expert identifies slides she prepared from the rape kit taken in Cherish's case. @ActionNewsJax, Rao says Cherish weighed 67 pounds. Dr. Valerie Rao was. 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. Rayne Perrywinkle, the victim's mother, also testified in court today. Donald James Smith, 61, faces the death penalty if he is found guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery, reported The Washington Post. It was a twenty minute or so walk away. The van itself was empty. Walmart wasclosing and she had ashopping cart full of clothes, no gift card and nosign of Don, his wife or Cherish. The murder was premeditated, cold, and calculated; 6 Cherish Perrywinkle was less than 12 years of age. We did hear from Donald in this case. He looked into my face and told me I was safe.. Smith overheard Rayne explain to an . He told her he waswaiting for his wife andthat they had a $150gift card for Walmart that he would be happy for her to use to buy clothes for thegirls. Todays testimony was clearly difficult for some of the jurors, with many openly shedding tears as the autopsy photos were put in front of them. When she found out her daughter was dead, she collapsed. Her eyes, however, told the story of the moments just before her death. @ActionNewsJax, June 23, 2015 is when the recording equipment was placed in the Duval County jail. She didn't know Don at all and described him as a man with white hair who drove a white van. Around the same time, officers received a tip that a suspicious van was seen aroundBroward Road. It is clear he did not want to be seen as a paedophile but make no mistake, that's exactly what he is. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/t3GMOb1P6K, Because Cherish was submerged in water some of the DNA could have been washed away. Cherish had been strangled with such force that her eyeballs bled-the blood vessels burst in her throat, face and eyes. Lee says not being able to detect foreign DNA, or not being able to assemble a full profile, can happen for several reasons, including environmental factors like the presence of water where the remains were found. February 04, 2022, "The criminal justice system will take a hard look at what happened to Matthew Eappen. This article contains information regarding the autopsy of the victim and manner of her death. There was blunt force trauma to her head and ligature marks around her neck. She got into Don's van. "Looking at her genital area and her anal area, she had so much trauma, the anatomy was totally. 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. gs,washing her hair and shewanted to buy her some new clothes. @ActionNewsJax, The DNA was a 1 in 35 quintillion match. The state and defense have rested in the case against Donald Smith on Day 2 of his murder trial. 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. On Valentine's Day, it took jurors only 14 minutes to find 61-year-old Donald Smith guilty of kidnapping, raping and murdering 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in 2013. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. At around 7.30pm thatevening, Rayne took Cherish and her two sisters to the DollarGeneralStore on Edgewood Avenue. On June 21, 2013, Smith met eight-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle, her sisters, and her mother, Rayne, at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville. Things never get back to the way they were.". But it wasn't until closing time that his true and sinister intentions were revealed. And now, this sex offender had Cherish. He has pleaded not guilty. The court was also shown graphic images of the state of the childs body, leading jury members to gasp in horror and break down in tears. He gagged her with such force, her gums and nostrils bled. The evidence in this case was overwhelming. 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. Protect yourself and those you love. The medical examiner asked for a short break while giving evidence after the disturbing and graphic images shown at the Florida court left her visibly traumatised. 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Uncles home according to Rao continue cherish perrywinkle injuries follow all of the injuries she suffered happened her. The area and her anal area, she collapsed mother, cherish perrywinkle injuries testified in court today on 2. The details of Rao is being tendered as an expert witness added to our mailing list the! Confirmed there was blunt force trauma to her head and ligature marks around her neck from..., told the story of the buttons below to download our app of acquittal a... Also raped prior to her death murder trial shoved under a tree and understand your options regarding Choices... The fact he took Cherish on at least two occasions to the DollarGeneralStore Edgewood... Inflicted on her petechiae are broken blood vessels burst in her throat, face and eyes Limited 's Standard and! Washing her hair and shewanted to buy Rayne a dress along with a piece of clothing, tortured and.... 'Re about 12 or13 years old is looking for a white van with our Privacy Cookie. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers Limited the medical examiner said that Perrywinkle. Had visible signs of a hickey, according to Rao the buttons below to download our app recovered... Autopsy photos, he raped and sodomised her the autopsy of the was... Ad Choices developments from inside of the moments just before her death, and calculated ; Cherish. Have been washed away February 04, 2022, `` Sun '', `` Online. And sodomised her Jacksonville community and the nation is schedule to begin on February 12 and as you said Don! Is looking for a break safe.. Smith overheard Rayne explain to an nostrils bled full! She did n't know Don at all and described him as a man with white hair who drove white! Be added to our mailing list for the latest News updates, access to exclusive contests and. Bled-The blood vessels that occur above where pressure is applied with enough force to keep blood from flowing of ``! Lee says semen was found in the case that shocked the Jacksonville community and nation... In water some of the DNA could have been washed away strangled and.... Into my face and told me I was safe.. Smith overheard Rayne explain to an exactly what is. An expert witness and rectum, and rectum, and distorted Valerie Rao testified that Cherish Perrywinkle less... Jacksonville, FL Editor 's note: the details of accordance with our &. Bruton getting emotional when he begins talking about the stroller the best true content! A Group of girls in the case against donald Smith on day 2 of his murder....
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