A Kansas man, aged 26, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for the sexual assault and murder of a 5-year-old girl in 2023. The crime occurred in a makeshift homeless camp while the child’s father was working nearby. Mickel Cherry admitted guilt to charges of first-degree murder and rape in relation to the death of Zoey Felix, according to court records.
Cherry was initially indicted on a capital murder charge. However, the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office agreed to drop this charge in return for his guilty plea. Under Kansas law, Cherry is now facing a mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years. The judge presiding over the case has the discretion to extend this period to 50 years before parole eligibility.
The Topeka Police Department responded to a distress call on October 2, 2023, around 6 p.m., regarding a young girl with severe injuries at a local gas station. Emergency medical personnel from the Topeka Fire Department were already on-site, attempting to save the child’s life. Despite their efforts, Zoey succumbed to her injuries shortly after being rushed to the hospital.
Authorities deemed Zoey’s death suspicious and promptly initiated a homicide investigation. Cherry was taken into custody and charged with Zoey’s murder. It was noted that Cherry and Zoey were acquainted prior to her death. Although not related, they were both residing in the same outdoor homeless camp at the time of Zoey’s death.
District Attorney Mike Kagay revealed in court that Cherry, after initially providing inconsistent statements, confessed to sexually assaulting Zoey and suffocating her with a pillow. Cherry was left alone with Zoey for approximately five hours while her father was working at a nearby gas station.
Reports suggest that Zoey and her father were living in the homeless camp after being evicted from their home by Zoey’s mother two weeks prior to the incident. The condition of the house was reportedly deplorable, with no running water or electricity. The reasons for Cherry’s presence in the camp and his relationship with Zoey and her father remain undisclosed.
Community members described Zoey as a self-reliant child who was often seen playing unsupervised in the neighborhood. Sheryl Tyree, a frequent visitor to the area, told local media, “Everybody on the block took care of Zoey. Everybody loved Zoey, except her parents.”