Cherish Perrywinkle: Kidnapped from Walmart and Murdered

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Cherish Perrywinkle was a young girl whose tragic and untimely death shocked the nation and highlighted the dangers lurking in everyday situations. In 2013, she was abducted from a Jacksonville, Florida, Walmart by a stranger who had gained her family’s trust. Her horrifying murder by a convicted sex offender serves as a grim reminder of the importance of vigilance and child safety. This case has drawn widespread attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and the systemic failures that allowed a dangerous predator to remain free.

A Childhood Filled with Hope: Cherish Perrywinkle

Cherish Perrywinkle’s early life was a mix of sunshine and struggle. Born on Christmas Eve in 2004, she brought joy to her family with her infectious smile and playful spirit. However, her home life wasn’t always stable. Her parents’ custody battle following their separation cast a shadow over her childhood. Yet, despite these challenges, Cherish thrived in first grade, earning recognition for good citizenship and reading. She loved dogs, dreamed of being an artist, and cherished the simple joys of childhood, like a new dress or a trip to Walmart with her mom and sisters.

Cherish Perrywinkle: A Day at Dollar General

On June 21st, 2013, in Jacksonville, Florida, Rayne Perrywinkle and her three young daughters, including Cherish, were shopping at a Dollar General store. Finances were tight, and Rayne couldn’t fulfill Cherish’s wish for a new dress, capturing the attention of a stranger later identified as 56-year-old Donald Smith. Donald smith cherish was convicted for the brutal abduction and murder of Cherish Perrywinkle, a crime that shocked the nation.

He approached Rayne, commenting on the “full hands” she seemed to have, mentioning having young children himself, seemingly building a connection. He then made an outwardly generous offer—claiming to possess a $150 gift card to Walmart and even stating his wife could bring it to them. Rayne’s eyes widened in disbelief. Struggling as she was, a stranger’s offer of help felt like a miracle, almost too good to be true.

Preying on a vulnerability—financial hardship—Donald dangled the promise of new clothes and a helpful gesture, seeing an opportunity to exploit a weakness in security and lure the family with the allure of money and convenience. Not only that, he even offered them a ride in his van. Rayne, initially hesitant, couldn’t refuse such a generous offer in her situation.

But she shuddered as she entered the van—darkness pressed in from all sides, veiled by blinds that masked the windows. An unsettling emptiness filled the space where the middle seat should have been, and the passenger seat lay flat, as if anticipating its next occupant. This seemingly innocuous encounter at Dollar General would tragically turn into a nightmare for Rayne and her daughters.

Horror in the Aisles: A Mother’s Plea and a Delayed Response

The idyllic facade captured on Walmart’s security cameras masked a sinister reality. Rayne and her daughters browsed the aisles, their joy seemingly oblivious to the predator lurking nearby. Donald lingered on the periphery, his presence a growing unease with each passing minute. The promise of his wife delivering the gift card remained unfulfilled, a lie hanging heavy in the air.

Then came the calculated suggestion: fast food from the in-store McDonald’s. Rayne was trusting in the perceived benevolence and agreed. The video captured Cherish, skipping innocently beside Donald, an image devoid of any struggle. He wasn’t a monster in the footage, but a wolf in sheep’s clothing, leading his prey away. The crucial moment, however, wasn’t a violent abduction, but the deliberate turn away from the store doors.

Donald and Cherish disappeared from the camera’s view, embarking on a journey from which there would be no return. The emptiness left behind would soon be filled with a mother’s frantic call, a desperate plea to Jacksonville’s 911 dispatcher, attempting to rewind time before it was too late:

Hi, I’m at Walmart…on Lem Turner. I think my daughter has been taken…taken by a stranger. I can’t find her. He said he was going to McDonald’s, and he hasn’t been there because the store is closed right now. [Last saw them] about half an hour ago.

I had a bad feeling, and I thought “well, I feel like pinching myself because this is too good to be true. He was giving my 8 year old too much attention. He wanted to buy her these really tall shoes that were women’s shoes and I told him no. I don’t want him to kill her. I should have told him no. I had a feeling about him when I first met him. He took her to the dressing room twice and I was hoping that she would be okay.

Rayne’s frantic call to 911, panicky pleas echoing through the receiver, marked the beginning of a heart-wrenching wait. However, to her horror, authorities initially categorized Cherish’s case as a missing person’s report, not an abduction. This critical distinction resulted in a devastating delay. The crucial first hours, when leads are often freshest, slipped away without an Amber Alert mobilizing the community. For six agonizing hours, precious time ticked by while the media remained uninformed, hindering the public’s ability to assist in the search.

The reasons for this delay remain a subject of debate. Was it disbelief in Rayne’s story, a misjudgment of the situation? The answer, shrouded in the fog of tragedy, is a source of lingering pain and unanswerable questions.

A Discovery of Darkness: Cherish Perrywinkle Autopsy Report (PDF)

A glimmer of hope emerged the next morning after police located Donald’s van on the highway, a development that could potentially lead to Cherish’s safe return. But amidst this new information, another call pierced through the tension, one that would shatter any remaining hope and plunge the community into unimaginable grief:

Hi, we’re calling about a suspicious van over here. A white van parked behind some bushes. It’s not there anymore, but we don’t know if he dumped anything… ‘cause we heard a girl just got abducted from Walmart.

The glimmer of hope extinguished as abruptly as it appeared. Authorities found Cherish’s body submerged in a nearby creek marsh, painting a horrifying picture of Donald’s depravity. The lifeless body of a young girl, discarded with callous indifference, spoke volumes about the depths of his evil. The autopsy revealed the true extent of the horror—Cherish had been subjected to repeated sexual assault before being strangled to death.

The brutality of the crime chilled the community to its core. Donald’s actions exposed a level of sociopathy that transcended understanding. The methodical abduction, the savage assault, all pointed towards a potential history of similar monstrous acts. His arrest on charges of first-degree murder, rape, and kidnapping was a necessary step towards justice, but it couldn’t bring Cherish back. The question of whether this was his first offense hung heavy in the air, a chilling possibility that cast a long shadow over the investigation.

Cherish Perrywinkle Crime Scene Photos

The crime scene photos in the Cherish Perrywinkle case were graphic and disturbing, depicting the brutal nature of her murder. These photos were not publicly released due to their graphic content and to protect the privacy of Cherish and her family. However, they were presented as evidence during Donald Smith’s trial.

The photos documented the extensive injuries Cherish suffered, including those resulting from sexual assault and strangulation. They also captured the location where her body was found, a wooded area behind a church, providing context to the crime.

The release of these photos during the trial had a profound impact on those present in the courtroom. Jurors were visibly shaken and emotional, some even weeping, as they viewed the images. The medical examiner who performed the autopsy, Dr. Valerie Rao, also broke down while testifying about the extent of Cherish’s injuries.

Cherish Perrywinkle Funeral

Friends and family of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle, a girl known for her bright smile and playful jokes, gathered to mourn her tragic loss. The emotional funeral service, held at Paxon Revival Center Church, was led by Pastor Steve Dobbs, who shared the grief of the congregation:

As a father of four daughters, I share your pain and sorrow… I may be a preacher, but I’m not immune to tears. An 8-year-old girl should not have met such a fate. However, we trust in God’s justice and victory.

Moved by the tragedy, Pastor Dobbs, who typically avoids political commentary, spoke out about the need for change in America:

Our church has never heard me delve into politics, but we must demand change to prevent such tragedies in the future.

A Descent into Depravity: The Story of Donald Smith

Donald has a lengthy criminal history, including arrests for burglary, battery, and sex offenses against children—caught masturbating in front of two minors. Unbelievably, despite his criminal history, he was walking free the day Cherish was kidnapped. As a child, Donald was a victim of sexual abuse, becoming sexually aware at 5 years old. He sustained a traumatic brain injury at the age of nine, including a loss of consciousness and scalp laceration. This has been linked to his behavioral issues. Donald began engaging in voyeurism and public masturbation by 10 years old.

Scans revealed significant brain tissue loss (atrophy). A neurologist evaluated Donald’s unusual behavior and narrowed the possibilities to two main categories of neurological conditions. One possibility was a neurodegenerative disease like frontotemporal dementia (including CTE) and the other was some form of epilepsy.

His symptoms align with orbitofrontal syndrome, which can manifest as hypersexuality, disinhibition (poor impulse control), and difficulty with judgment and avoiding repeat offenses (recidivism). While saying he has zero impulse control might be an exaggeration, managing his behavior is definitely a challenge. However, mental health or neurological issues don’t necessarily prevent someone from understanding the seriousness or repercussions of their actions.

A Mother’s Anguish: Cherish Perrywinkle Mother’s Testimony Reignites the Storm

Over four years after Cherish’s horrific murder, Donald’s trial began on February 12th, 2018. Rayne, forced to relive the nightmare, took the stand. Her voice was choked with grief as she detailed Donald’s manipulative tactics—the promise of a dress, a seemingly harmless gesture, was used to lure Cherish away. Rayne recounted Donald’s impatience when she hesitated to enter the van, a detail that sent a fresh wave of horror through the courtroom.

The public, already grappling with the case’s brutality, reacted strongly to Rayne’s raw honesty. Her confession of feeling “foolish” for trusting a stranger ignited a complex mix of emotions. While some empathized with her vulnerability, others expressed a harsh form of judgment. For Rayne, the trial wasn’t just about seeking justice for Cherish; it was a public dissection of a mother’s agonizing choices. Grief and guilt intertwined as she relived the events that led to her daughter’s disappearance.

This public scrutiny added another layer of pain to Rayne’s ordeal. She was already shattered by the loss of Cherish, and now she had to defend her actions under a harsh spotlight. The courtroom became a battleground, not just for legal victory, but for public understanding of a mother’s desperate attempt to provide for her children.

A Ghost from the Past: Kerri-Anne Buck Takes the Stand

The prosecution’s case against Donald took a chilling turn when they called Kerri-Anne Buck to the witness stand. Decades earlier, when she was just 13 years old, Kerri-Anne claimed Donald had attempted to abduct her. Her harrowing testimony painted a disturbing picture of a predator with a potential history of violence.

Tears streamed down Kerri-Anne’s face as she recounted the terrifying day Donald approached her near a playground. He allegedly parked his van nearby and demanded she enter the vehicle. Thankfully, Kerri-Anne managed to escape, fleeing through the park while Donald chased her in his van. She eventually found refuge in a playground slide—the memory of fear still vivid after all these years:

He told me to get the fuck in the van. I was slipping. I was so afraid I was going to fall down, and he was going to find me. He said, “I know you’re in there, you little Bitch. I’m going to find you.”

This revelation sent shockwaves through the courtroom. Here was living proof, another young girl who had allegedly encountered Donald’s predatory behavior. The possibility that Cherish wasn’t his first victim hung heavy in the air. Kerri-Anne’s courage in reliving her trauma not only strengthened the prosecution’s case but also served as a voice for countless others who might have faced similar horrors at Donald’s hands.

The prosecution’s case against Donald painted a damning picture. Rayne’s testimony exposed his manipulative tactics, and Kerri-Anne Buck’s account offered a chilling glimpse into a potential history of predatory behavior. The public eagerly awaited the defense’s response.

A Calculated Silence: The Defense’s Puzzling Strategy

The defense’s strategy took a surprising turn. Their opening statement initially hinted at a vigorous fight, even attempting to shift some blame onto Rayne. Yet, when the opportunity arose to cross-examine her, Donald himself intervened, refusing to allow his lawyers to question the grieving mother. This decision was met with confusion. The defense presented no witnesses of their own and opted to forgo a closing argument. Was this a calculated silence, a strategic move meant to avoid further incriminating Donald? Or was it an acknowledgment of the overwhelming evidence against him?

Blaming Rayne for her daughter’s death would have been a risky move, bordering on insensitive. It would have painted the defense as callous and disrespectful towards a mother already drowning in grief. Perhaps they understood the potential public backlash and the legal weakness of such an argument.

The silence of the defense, however, did little to dispel the disturbing image presented by the prosecution. It left the jury with a one-sided narrative and fueled speculation about the reasons behind Donald’s refusal to take the stand or offer any explanation for his actions. Ultimately, the defense’s strategy raised more questions than it answered, leaving the jury to grapple with the stark realities laid bare by the prosecution’s case.

Life Cut Short: Cherish Perrywinkle’s Killer Sentenced to Death

In one of the trial’s most dramatic moments, Dr. Valerie Rao, the medical examiner, broke down on the stand while describing the brutal nature of the crime. Tears welled up in the jurors’ eyes as well. Unable to continue, Dr. Rao requested a five-minute recess to compose herself.

Meanwhile, prosecutors deliver another blow, playing an audio tape between Donald and another inmate in jail:

When you look at a girl’s ass, you’re like woah, woah, woah, woah, woah! You know how old they are? Yeah, how about 12, 12, 13? You see there? Wow. All right. You could sit a wine glass on her ass! That’s right up my alley right there. That’s my target area right there. That’s what I go after. Yeah, I’d like to run into her at Walmart.

Despite facing these horrific charges, Donald spoke freely in jail, showing that he was intending to commit the crime and is attracted to young girls. After deliberating for only 15 minutes, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. The penalty phase of the trial then commenced, where the jury would decide between life imprisonment and the death penalty. Ultimately, they recommended the death penalty for Donald.

No Remorse: Donald Smith Maintains Innocence Despite Death Sentence

Following his conviction for the horrific crimes against cherish perrywinkle death, details emerged revealing a different aspect of Donald’s personality. Leaked jailhouse recordings captured conversations between him and his mother, where he expressed a disturbing level of interest in the media attention he was receiving.

This is way bigger than anything. This is way bigger than [Casey] Anthony. Way bigger! There’s people out there that you would think wouldn’t have… that don’t have a damn clue about anything that’s going on right beside ‘em! And they know me real well. How do you make it with an 8 year old girl? I don’t view children as sexual objects.

He denied being a pedophile, likely to spare his mother the harsh truth or to avoid the label himself in prison. Being labelled a child molester in prison is a dangerous prospect as inmates often target them for violence, and jailers tend to offer minimal protection.

In an audio recording, Donald suggested that as a registered sex offender, he had no choice but to kill Cherish when she followed him out of Walmart:

When I told Harry, he says “Man, once she got in your van, you were fucked!” My mind just left me. All I know was, you gotta go. You have to go. I don’t care hot. You gotta go.

Consumed by a twisted justification for his actions, he planned her murder. Later, seeking to deflect blame, he fabricated a mental health defense and in a manipulative attempt, he even asked his mother for a book on psychiatric disorders:

I mean, mental illness is my whole defense basically and it’s got to be good.

Desperately seeking to manipulate his way out of a death sentence, Donald’s defense team filed an appeal with the Florida Supreme Court. Their primary arguments focused on securing a new trial, claiming excessive media coverage saturating the state, potentially biasing potential jurors. The prosecution countered that a change of venue request had already been considered and denied due to lack of legal grounds.

The defense argued the medical examiner’s emotional testimony swayed the jury. However, the prosecution pointed out the conviction was based on more than just one witness. Despite these attempts, Donald found himself in the one place he’d hoped to avoid—prison, facing the death penalty. Cherish Perrywinkle was tragically kidnapped from Walmart, a crime that led to nationwide outrage and grief.

A Message from Rayne Perrywinkle

I’m Cherish Perrywinkle’s mother. The Bible says “An eye for an eye. Tooth for a tooth.” Don’t keep him alive so he can keep getting out! It ends now! Thank you everyone for your support. I couldn’t have done it all without you. This is for Cherish and other victims out there.

Cherish Perrywinkle Vulnerability, Manipulated: A Complex Tragedy

The story of Cherish Perrywinkle’s disappearance highlights a chilling reality—predators exploit vulnerabilities. Her story, though heartbreaking, served as a stark reminder of the darkness that can lurk within seemingly ordinary individuals. It became a call to action, urging communities to stand vigilant and never underestimate the threat posed by predators. Entrusting a stranger with your child is a decision every parent wrestles with, and this tragedy underscores the importance of constant vigilance.

Undoubtedly, public outrage often focuses on the parent when a child goes missing. In Rayne’s case, the financial strain and the allure of a “helping hand” undeniably played a role. But judging a desperate situation with hindsight is easy. Donald Smith was a master manipulator, preying on a single mother’s desire to provide for her daughters.

Rayne was a victim, caught off guard by a calculated predator who saw an opportunity. While the consequences were devastating, labeling her solely as blameworthy ignores the complexities of manipulation and the ever-present threat from those who seek to harm children. This tragedy serves as a grim reminder to remain cautious, but also acknowledges the vulnerabilities that can be exploited by those with evil intentions.

Cherish Perrywinkle Father

Billy Jarreau, Cherish Perrywinkle’s father, was a retired Navy sailor who had fought for custody of his daughter. In a heartbreaking turn of events, Cherish was supposed to fly out to spend the summer of 2013 with her father, but tragedy struck the night before her flight. Billy received a devastating message from the sheriff’s office early that morning, informing him of his daughter’s abduction and murder.

In the years since, Billy has spoken out about his daughter’s case, advocating for justice and sharing memories of Cherish’s vibrant personality and infectious smile. His story serves as a stark reminder of the enduring pain of loss and the importance of cherishing every moment with loved ones.

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