Tragic Case of Cherish Perrywinkle: A Mother's Heartbreak
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Chapter 1: Background of Cherish Perrywinkle
Cherish Lily Perrywinkle was born in 2004 in Jacksonville, Florida, to Rayne Perrywinkle and Billy Jarreau, who were embroiled in custody disputes.
On the evening of June 21, 2013, Rayne took her daughters to a local Dollar General store in Jacksonville to purchase new dresses they desperately needed.
While shopping, 56-year-old Donald James Smith observed them closely, seeking a chance to approach the family. He had already assessed their financial struggles and intended to exploit their vulnerability.
Eventually, Smith approached Rayne, expressing empathy and mentioning he had children himself. He claimed his wife possessed a $100 Walmart gift card and offered to buy dresses for Rayne's daughters. Grateful for what appeared to be a generous act, Rayne accepted his offer. The family entered Smith's white van, believing he would take them to Walmart to meet his wife.
Unbeknownst to Rayne, Smith was a convicted sex offender who had been released from jail just 21 days prior, after serving time for a sex offense.
Inside the van, the windows were covered, and the seats were pushed down. The Perrywinkles spent around two hours shopping at Walmart while Smith assured them his wife was on her way.
As time passed and his supposed wife failed to arrive, Rayne's anxiety grew. By 10 p.m., the children were hungry. Smith proposed taking Cherish to get a meal from the store's McDonald's, while Rayne and her other daughters stayed behind.
Trusting Smith, Rayne allowed Cherish to go with him, a decision that would haunt her forever. Surveillance footage captured them entering McDonald's, but shortly thereafter, they disappeared from view. They left the store, got into Smith's van, and drove away.
When an hour passed without their return, Rayne's world shattered. Overwhelmed with despair, she frantically called 911, voicing her fears and regrets about trusting Smith.
The police initially treated the incident as a missing persons case, rather than an abduction, which wasted valuable time in locating Cherish.
Section 1.1: The Search for Cherish
Six long hours later, an Amber Alert was finally issued for Cherish. A roommate of Smith provided vital information that aided the search, leading to Smith’s arrest the following morning.
An officer spotted Smith’s van off Interstate 95, and he was apprehended swiftly. A tipster also reported seeing the van near Highland Baptist Church, where Cherish's lifeless body was tragically discovered in a creek, still in the dress she wore the night of her abduction.
Donald Smith faced severe charges, including first-degree murder, rape, and kidnapping. The brutality of Cherish's murder deeply affected everyone involved, including the medical examiner, who struggled to contain their emotions while testifying.