In Topeka, Kansas, a 25-year-old man who was homeless has been charged with the murder and rape of a 5-year-old girl named Zoey Felix.
The accused, Mickel Cherry, is facing charges that include capital murder, first-degree murder, and rape in connection with Zoey's tragic death, which occurred on Monday. Cherry has been placed in jail in Topeka with a bond set at $2 million, and his upcoming court appearance is yet to be scheduled. Mark Manna, from the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit, confirmed they would represent Cherry but declined to provide further comments. Messages left for Cherry's family remain unanswered.
The capital murder charge could potentially lead to a death penalty sentence; however, Shawnee County prosecutor Michael Kagay has not responded to inquiries regarding his intentions.
According to Kagay's statement, Topeka police responded urgently to a gas station where fire crews were attempting to save Zoey's life. Tragically, she was later pronounced dead. A medical examination conducted at the hospital revealed injuries consistent with sexual assault.
Details regarding the exact cause of Zoey's death have not been disclosed. Timothy Phelps, the deputy director of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, confirmed that Cherry used to reside at the same address as Zoey but was homeless at the time of his arrest. While Cherry has no criminal record in Kansas, he does have a misdemeanor criminal trespass conviction in Amarillo, Texas.
Neighbors had raised concerns about Zoey's family home lacking electricity and had contacted the police and child welfare authorities. Topeka police confirmed that they responded to three calls related to the home in September: one on September 5 for a welfare check due to the lack of electricity, and two domestic disturbance calls on September 19, which were approximately an hour apart. However, detailed information about these two calls was not provided.
City spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker explained that during the first call, officers confirmed the absence of electricity and were informed that the child wasn't staying there. Although the child appeared to be in good spirits, the police reported the situation to child welfare and property officials. The city had initially moved to condemn the house but reversed this decision when the utilities were restored. Neighbors reported that everyone, except the mother, had moved out of the house later that month.
In the vicinity, a makeshift memorial with flowers, balloons, and toys was set up as a tribute to Zoey's memory.
In another development in Alaska, a man who confessed to fatally stabbing a sex worker during an intimate encounter and then attempting to move her body to his car before his girlfriend returned home has been sentenced to spend at least fifty years in prison. See detailed story here
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