JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—The full audio for several 911 calls regarding the disappearance and death of eight-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in 2013 were released Wednesday by the State Attorney's Office.
Among the calls: Rayne Perrwinkle, Cherish's mother, contacting police, her voice stricken after realizing she's lost her child. Rayne says she let her daughter go with the man accused in the child's death to McDonald's for food after coming with him to Walmart.
Read the full story: "Cherish Perrywinkle's last moments released."
We believe one of the below calls was the tip given to police that helped them find the little girl's body. Another is a call from a man who professes to be Donald Smith's friend, telling police where he thinks the man might be hiding.
Below are the full transcripts and audio of those 911 calls. Please scroll all the way down to access the audio on two more phone calls (the transcript for the first is very long).
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Below is the call that First Coast News believes to be the original report of Cherish missing, provided by her mother at a Walmart on June 21, 2013. This call comes after the mother hadn't seen her daughter for at least half an hour. Please be aware - this call contains graphic language and some may find its content severely disturbing.
911: Jacksonville 911, Robinson.
RAYNE: (voice shaking) Hi, I'm at Walmart on Lem Turner at [redacted]. [redacted]'s been taken.
911: What do you mean?
RAYNE: Taken by a stranger. I can't find her.
911: Okay ma'am, how old is [redacted]?
RAYNE: [redacted] (crying)
911: And you say you're at the Walmart on Lem Turner?
RAYNE: Yes, I am.
911: Okay. Where did you last see her at?
RAYNE: (unintelligible) I met a man today at Dollar General. He saw that I was struggling to buy them some clothes. He brought us here to buy us some clothes and the only reason I went with him because he said his wife was gonna be here. Because I told him I don't take rides with strangers.
911: Oh, okay ma'am, what's [redacted] (full four seconds)
RAYNE: Yes.
911: And her - her last name?
RAYNE: [redacted]
911: Can you spell that for me please?
RAYNE: [redacted]
911: And is she a white female, black female?
RAYNE: 'Scuse me?
911: Is she a white or black female?
RAYNE: She's [redacted]
911: What color is she?
RAYNE: [redacted] I don't remember what clothes she's wearing because I'm panicking right now. I'm trying not to panic.
911: Okay and she was last seen with this man?
RAYNE: Yes, he went - he said he was going to McDonald's and he hasn't been there... because the store is closed right now.
911: Okay, is he a white man or a black man?
RAYNE: A white man. He's got white, short hair and he's got dark eyebrows.
911: You said dark, short hair?
RAYNE: No, he's got white hair and dark eyebrows. I had a strange feeling about him when I first met him and he took her to the - he took her to the - to the dressing rooms twice. And I was hoping that she would be okay. And I was looking at the shoes. And I didn't want him to think I was overly protective, freaking out, but now... they're not here and I find it very odd because he knew that [redacted]
911: Oh, okay ma'am, what color vehicle does he drive?
RAYNE: It's a white van.
911: Do you remember any stickers or anything on the side of the van or anything that you can remember at all? Did it have tinted windows or anything?
RAYNE: I know he's got carpet in the van. And he's (unintelligible) (cries)
911: And you said what?
RAYNE: I didn't take a good look at the van.
911: Okay, did you remember on it - did you see any tag on it or anything? Was it a Florida tag?
RAYNE: No, I didn't look at that. I feel like a fool.
911: Okay ma'am, can you remember what he had on?
RAYNE: No, I don't remember anything because I'm panicking right now.
911: Okay ma'am, what's your name?
RAYNE: My name's [redacted]. He said his name is Don. He said he was supposed to meet his wife and his wife never showed up and I couldn't figure out why she didn't even show up at Dollar General.
911: And he told you ya'll were gonna meet his wife at, uhm, the Walmart?
RAYNE: At first she was supposed to show up at Dollar General, and then he was gonna meet with her at - at Walmart and we been here probably two hours. And she didn't show up and I had this cart full of clothes that he said he was gonna pay for with a $100 gift card and I - 'scuse me - I - I had a bad feeling, I thought, well, I feel like pinching myself cause this is too good to be true, so I got to the checkout and he's not here and I'm hoping he's not raping her right now, cause I've had that done to me. It's not, it's not (unintelligible). She's supposed to go to California in the morning on a plane. And he knows cause I told him this, he knew when the store was closing. (heavy breathing) I had a bad feeling about him.
911: Okay, how long have you been looking for her - when was the last time you saw [redacted], how long ago?
RAYNE: About half an hour ago. About 10:30 p.m.
911: You've been looking for her for half an hour?
RAYNE: Yes. There's nobody in the store. And he knew the store was closing. He said he was going to McDonald's, she went with him, I should have told her to stay with me.
911: He was going to the McDonald's inside the store?
RAYNE: Yes. He wasn't here. Somebody said they saw him, but he's not here. He should of had the - the nerve to stand here and wait. He must know that I'm panicking right now.
(8 seconds of silence)
911: Okay ma'am, where are you in the store now, are you outside? Or where?
RAYNE: I'm in the front of the store. I think I need to hang up because I -
911: No ma'am, are you a white female, black female? What clothes do you have on?
RAYNE: I'm five-eight.
911: What color shirt do you have on?
RAYNE: A haveo n a short black polka dot dress and brown flip flop sandals. I have long red hair.
911: Are you right in the front of the store?
RAYNE: 'Scuse me?
911: Who are you talking to?
RAYNE: The Walmart employee they're - they're talking to my girls because they haven't had anything to eat.
911: What'd you say ma'am?
RAYNE: They haven't had anything to eat so the Walmart employee was talking to my girls.
911: Talking to your who?
RAYNE: My girls.
911: Okay, you have more kids with you?
RAYNE: Yes, I have two - my other one, I think he - I think he took her.
911: Okay ma'am you have [redacted]. You think she's been taken. You say you have other kids with you?
RAYNE: Yes, I do. He was - uh - he was giving [redacted] too much attention. He wanted her to buy these really tall shoes that were women's shoes and I told him no - they were too high for her, I wouldn't even wear shoes that high. He was grooming her. I hope to God he doesn't kill her. I hope to God he doesn't rape her.
911: Okay and when did you meet him today?
RAYNE: I met him at Dollar General on Edgewood, I was struggling with my money to buy the girls some clothes and he saw that I - what I was doing and he waited for us outside the store. And he said that he was waiting on his wife to show up. And so I waited around to meet her. And she didn't show up and then he said he was gonna give us a ride over here to Walmart and then we waited in the parking lot for maybe 20 minutes for her to show up - she didn't show up. So we all went into the store, we been here about 2 hours. And she didn't show up. And I don't understand why he would leave right now unless he was gonna rape her and kill her - that's the only reason. And I'm wasting my time standing here.
911: You're not wasting your time ma'am - we have officers on the way to you.
RAYNE: I can't remember what [redacted] was wearing. (cries) I need to sit down and be calm and close my eyes and try to remember what [redacted] was wearing.
911: Okay ma'am just stay in front of the store and just try to think about what she's wearing and what he's wearing so when the officers get there you can tell them.
RAYNE: Yeah.
911: Okay, can you think about anything else about the van or anything?
RAYNE: It had a line around the van as it were maybe a metal - a metal - not a sticker but maybe, I don't know how to explain.
911: Like a pinstripe?
RAYNE: I don't know.
911: Do you remember what color it was?
RAYNE: I think it was dark maybe like a silver. (cries) And it had a big space in the middle of the van where he had taken out - taken out a couple of seats and he - or I put the stroller in there. I don't want him to kill her. I don't want to be one of those parents that are going through this. I just - I fell responsible because I - I told him when I first met him that uh - was a little bit scared of him because I thought he was waiting to rob us outside the Dollar General because he was just standing there. And he said, well, if you really want that dress for [redacted] I'm gonna get it for her. I should of told him. But my - my girls need clothes so bad that I - I let him do it. I'm so sorry - now these ladies have to put all these clothes back in the store. (rapid breathing)
911: Can you remember anything else about him, whenever you were talking to him? Did he sound funny, like he had a acc - accent or anything? Or -
RAYNE: He said he works for (unintelligible).
911: He said he works for (unintelligible)?
RAYNE: Yes.
911: Did he say where they lived?
RAYNE: No, I don't remember that. He said his wife is from the Virgin Islands. We had a little chat in the van on the way over.
911: And did he say he lived on that side of town or anything?
RAYNE: He said he didn't know this part of town - he wasn't sure about this part of town. (rapid breathing) Oh Gosh, he knows the store is closed. He knows McDonald's is closed. Why in the world would he take [redacted]?
911: You don't see the van in the parking lot or anything, where ya'll left it?
RAYNE: Well.
911: Have you been outside to the parking lot?
RAYNE: I went outside the door, but I don't think I see the van. (to someone else) Yeah, yeah, he took her, he took her away.
911: Okay who are you talking with ma'am?
RAYNE: I'm talking to a Walmart employee. Oh my Gosh. Oh my Gosh.
911: Are you outside now, ma'am?
RAYNE: Yeah, there's two police officers out here, two police cars.
911: Okay, go ahead and speak with the officers.
RAYNE: Thank you.
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Below is the call to police describing where they might find Cherish Perrywinkle.
911: Jacksonville 911 this is (unintelligible)
CALLER: We's callin' about a suspicious van over here on [redacted]. A white van, it was parked behind some bushes. Really deep and then we heard that it was -
[crosstalk]
911: What's the nearest cross street?
[redacted]
CALLER: Yes ma'am, and it was a white van, it isn't there anymore. We don't know if he dumped anything cause we heard a girl just got abducted from Walmart. Right so, we're not sure but the van was pushed all the way back to the bushes this morning.
911: Near some bushes?
CALLER: Yes, right behind the church.
911: Oh, behind [redacted]
CALLER: Yes ma'am.
911: Behind the bushes. And how long ago did you see it?
[unintelligible crosstalk]
CALLER: (to someone else) You picked up at work at seven o'clock so that was at 7:20.
SOMEONE IN THE BACKGROUND: It was right there.
CALLER: We didn't know anything until just now.
911: All right and you said it's now gone?
CALLER: Yes ma'am.
911: But you think just in case he may have dumped something?
CALLER: Right just in case but we don't know - it looked suspicious. Cause it was all the way to the back.
911: Okay and what was your last name?
[redacted]
911: And what's your phone number?
[redacted]
911: What address are you calling from?
[redacted]
911: All right I'll go ahead and put this in and have an officer check it out, okay?
CALLER: Okay, thank you.
911: Thanks, bu-bye.
CALLER: Bye.
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Below is the call where a man suggests to police where they could find Donald Smith:
LT. MILLER: Hey this is Lieutenant Miller.
CALLER: Yes, hi.
MILLER: Uhm do you have a phone number I can have somebody call you back at?
CALLER: (to someone else) Uh yeah uh what's the phone number? Uh, your phone number?
[redacted]
MILLER: So does he hang out at that camp or what?
CALLER: I don't know. He mentioned it that he was out there a couple nights ago hangin' out with some people and they were out in the woods and they been livin' out there for years uh With the homeless people, a bunch of homeless people uh just kind of -
[crosstalk]
MILLER: Isn't it back there by the old Mc[redacted] - it's a homeless camp?
CALLER: Yeah, yeah. There's a bunch of people living out there in tents and stuff he said.
[typing]
MILLER: And how do you know him?
CALLER: Uhm, I live at where he lives, I rent a room from his mo- from his mother. And he was here yesterday and I was talkin' to 'im.
MILLER: Uh huh.
CALLER: And he just, he mentioned that to me about all these people - the craziness of it all, whatever - the craziness of it all but it was just a thought. It was like a place where the cops had never raided.
MILLER: Is that what he said, the cops never raided that place?
CALLER: Yeah, he was like there's this one guy livin' out there for like 20 years and they've never found him there, you know, I don't know exactly where it is but he just said something about 62nd and Main.
MILLER: 62nd, 61st you said?
CALLER: 62nd and Main.
MILLER: Oh, okay. ... So, uhm... what's your name, sir?
CALLER: My name is [redacted].
MILLER: I don't have a 62nd. I have a 61st and Main. Is it -
CALLER: Maybe it's 61st, it could be, uh, he said it was way out there.
MILLER: Way out where? I mean -
CALLER: In Jacksonville.
[3 second pause]
MILLER: Okay Charlie, what's your last name?
CHARLIE: My last name is [redacted].
MILLER: Are you at the place where you rent now? What's the address there?
CHARLIE: [redacted]
MILLER: Is that where his mom lives, too?
CHARLIE: Yeah.
MILLER: Have they talked to his mom?
CHARLIE: Yeah, the police were here this mornin'.
MILLER: Uh huh
CHARLIE: You know I just been sitting here, I been - I'd helped him take a couple seats out of his van yesterday and we was just talkin' and he was talkin' about - you know - where he's been and you know and that - it just popped into my head that maybe that's where he's hiding out - I don't know. It's just a thought.
MILLER: Where are the - where'd he take - where're the seats at? Did the - did ya tell the police that?
CHARLIE: Uh no, I didn't, I just thought that -
MILLER: (talking over) What time was that?
CHARLIE: That was yesterday afternoon about two o'clock I think.
MILLER: (beat) Okay. Okay. Uhm, if I need somethin' else I'm a call you back, okay?
CHARLIE: Okay.
MILLER: Thank you.
CHARLIE: All right, you're welcome.
MILLER: Bye.
CHARLIE: Bu-bye.
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