News. In a heart-wrenching incident incident that has sent shock-waves through Topeka, a 25-year-old homeless man now faces charges of the most heinous crimes imaginable: raping and murdering a 5-year-old girl named Zoey Felix in early October. The community is left in disbelief, demanding answers and accountability as an investigation delves deeper into the conditions that surrounded the young victim in the days leading to her tragic end.
The accused, Mickel Cherry, stands charged with capital murder, first-degree murder, and rape, according to records from Shawnee County District Court. Currently incarcerated at Shawnee County jail, Cherry’s bond is set at an exorbitant $2 million.
The gravity of the charges may see Kansas prosecutors seeking the ultimate punishment – the death penalty for Cherry if he is found guilty of capital murder. District Attorney Mike Kagay, however, has not yet made a decision, awaiting a preliminary hearing. In this high-stakes legal battle, Mark Manna, the chief attorney at the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit, remains tight-lipped.
The heart-wrenching truth is that Cherry, the accused, was no stranger to the young victim but was merely an “acquaintance” with no known familial ties to Zoey. Timothy Phelps, deputy director of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, confirmed that Cherry had previously shared an address with Zoey but was homeless at the time of his arrest.
Topeka was left in shock and despair as news of Zoey’s brutal assault and untimely death spread like wildfire. This horrific incident has not only put the spotlight on Zoey’s parents but has also ignited a broader discussion on why both law enforcement and the beleaguered Department for Children and Families failed to protect this bubbly and inquisitive child in an environment fraught with danger.
What happened to Zoey Felix?
On the fateful evening of October 2, Topeka police received a distress call from a Dillon’s grocery store, where paramedics were frantically attending to Zoey Felix’s life-threatening injuries. A subsequent medical examination revealed evidence consistent with sexual assault, adding to the trauma of the already devastated community.
Although the authorities have yet to disclose the exact cause of Zoey’s death, former neighbours of the girl and her family have come forward, shedding light on the dire circumstances leading up to the tragedy. It is believed that Zoey, her father, and Cherry had been living in a grove of trees on a wooded lot near a gas station, just blocks away from her mother’s home. While this theory suggests that she was carried from the wooded lot to the gas station, the police have not officially confirmed these details.
Tragically, it was a common sight in the neighbourhood to witness Zoey wandering unsupervised, left to her own devices. Neighbours came together as a community to ensure she had food, clothing, and hygiene, highlighting the evident failures in the system that should have protected her.
Public outrage over Zoey’s fate has mainly centred on her parents, but child advocates are now raising crucial questions about the shortcomings of the Department for Children and Families and local law enforcement, which left this innocent child in such perilous surroundings.
Court records reveal that Zoey’s mother had a prior conviction in Nevada for disorderly conduct and had violated a protection-from-abuse order before relocating to Topeka. The troubles escalated in July 2022 when Zoey’s mother called the police to report a disturbance. Later that day, her teenage sister reported her mother’s overdose, leading to an arrest on misdemeanour domestic battery charges. Despite being released on bond, she was ordered to have no contact with her husband.
In a disturbing turn of events, it was revealed in November that Zoey had been in a car crash with her mother, who was accused of driving under the influence with an open container, with Zoey in the car. Subsequently, hospital records for Zoey were subpoenaed. In a bid to ensure Zoey’s safety, her father obtained a protection-from-abuse order against her mother, with the court granting him custody of the child.
Did neighbours report what was happening to Zoey Felix before her death?
Neighbours claimed to have reported Zoey’s living conditions to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, with police confirming multiple visits to the home in September, including a welfare check related to an electricity outage and two domestic disturbance calls on September 19. Regrettably, the specifics of these incidents were not disclosed by the authorities.
The tragic narrative surrounding Zoey’s life raises urgent questions about society’s collective failure to support and safeguard a vulnerable child. Shakti Belway, the executive director at the National Center for Youth Law, laments the tragic state of affairs and emphasises the urgency of rectifying systemic shortcomings.
Though Zoey had been a preschool student at the Shaner Early Learning Academy, it was revealed that she was not currently enrolled in any classes, leaving her in a vulnerable state. Laura Howard, the top administrator for the Department for Children and Families, acknowledged the tragic nature of Zoey’s case during a legislative committee hearing on October 4 but refrained from providing further details.
The shocking nature of Zoey Felix’s story has prompted many to ask, “How was that child not removed? It doesn’t make any sense.” These poignant words from Mike Fonkert, deputy director of Kansas Appleseed, reflect the collective anguish and bewilderment of a community mourning the loss of a promising young life.
As the investigation unfolds, the community waits in hope for justice and, more importantly, a reevaluation of the systems that failed to protect Zoey Felix.