A 25-year-old man was charged on Thursday with the rape and murder of a 5-year-old Kansas girl who was discovered lifeless in a gas station parking lot despite the best efforts of firefighters.
On Monday, Mickel Cherry was charged with three offenses in connection with Zoey Felix’s death: capital murder (which allows for the death penalty to be sought), first-degree murder, and rape. His next court hearing has not been set, however he is now being jailed in Topeka on a $2 million bond.
Shawnee County District Attorney Michael Kagay told reporters that he will not determine whether to seek the death sentence for Cherry until after a preliminary hearing. This is common in capital cases.
According to Mark Manna, who declined to speak further, Cherry will be represented by the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit. Cherry’s family did not return messages.
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No official information has been released about Zoey’s death; however, old neighbors believe she, her father, and Cherry spent the last few weeks living in a grove of trees on a forested lot near the gas station, only a few streets away from her mother’s house. However, officials have not determined if she was carried from the wooded area to the gas station.
According to Kagay’s news release, Topeka police arrived at a petrol station where firefighters were attempting to resuscitate Zoey. After that, an autopsy proved her dead. Following a medical evaluation, sexual assault injuries were discovered.
During a brief news conference, Kagay told reporters, “I think the investigation into the murder and rape of this 5-year-old girl is fairly complete.”
When asked if he would consider charging others, Kagay responded, “I’m willing to consider any actionable investigations brought to me,” but when asked if he was aware of any other investigations, he added, “I’m not.”
Timothy Phelps, the deputy director of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, confirmed that Cherry and Zoey had a previous address, but Cherry was homeless at the time of his arrest.
Cherry has no criminal record in Kansas, in contrast to his minor criminal trespass conviction in Amarillo, Texas.
Neighbors said they called the police and child welfare after discovering Zoey’s family residence was without electricity.
To put it simply, she was a good person. The reality is quite transparent and humorous. She was insatiably curious. “She’d ask you 1,000 questions, and you’d have to answer them all,” remembered a neighbor, Shaniqua Bradley.
“My Neighbors” “My Neighbors” “My Neighbors” “My Neighbors” “My Neighbors” “My Neighbors” “My Neighbors” “Neighbors” “
She told the radio station, “All the kids love her, and she’s a big hit with the younger generation.” They were all Zoey’s buddies and protectors. She had nowhere to go, no matter how inquisitive she was. “It’s a dead end street.”
On Thursday, Topeka police admitted to making three separate visits to the property in September: one on September 5 for a welfare check following a complaint that the home had no electricity, and two in the afternoon and evening of September 19 in response to allegations of domestic disputes. The police did not provide any information on the two calls.
According to Gretchen Spiker, a municipal spokesperson, authorities determined there was no electricity and were told the child was not residing there after the original complaint. According to Spiker, after conversing with the girl, officers reported her “good spirits” to child welfare and property officials.
The Kansas Department of Children and Families has been blasted by police and WIBW reporters for their lack of engagement.
When the city learned that the utilities had been restored, they chose not to condemn the house. Everyone but the mother, according to the neighbors, had already fled by that time.
A tarp and a solitary tent were set up in the woods about a football field away from the Dillons petrol pumps, where emergency professionals attempted to resuscitate Zoey.
According to a coworker who contacted with the news organization on Wednesday, the gas station where her father works has not responded to an email from The Associated Press concerning his leave of absence.
Others nearby had built a makeshift memorial out of flowers, balloons, and toys.
According to WIBW, a candlelight vigil was held at a local church on Wednesday night to demonstrate sympathy with victims of sexual assault.
