Zoey Felix, 5, was killed October 2 in Topeka. Here's complete coverage of her death.
The rape and killing of a young girl on Oct. 2 shocked the Topeka community.
Topeka police were called just before 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2, to the fuel pumps outside Dillons, 2010 S.E. 29th, where the Topeka Fire Department was treating Zoey Felix, 5, for life-threatening injuries, said Rosie Nichols, public safety communications specialist for Topeka's city government. She was later pronounced dead.
Mickel Cherry, 25, an acquaintance of the girl who had no permanent address, was arrested in connection with rape and first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, Nichols said.
Kansas lawmakers seek to have independent board instead of governor oversee child advocate
Rep. Susan Concannon says she supports having Kerrie Lonard continue to serve as the state's child advocate.
But Concannon, R-Beloit, hopes to see the Kansas Division of the Child Advocate overseen by an independent board instead of the governor, as is now the case.
'Everybody loved Zoey, except her parents'
It was a common sight, neighbors say, to see Zoey Felix, 5, roaming unsupervised throughout the neighborhood where she lived in southeast Topeka.
The girl "pretty much took care of herself," said Shaniqua Bradley, who lived next door to her until recent weeks.
Residents there worked as a community to keep Zoey fed, clothed and clean, said Bradley.
Meanwhile, Bradley said she and other neighbors contacted the Kansas Department for Children and Families several times to report Zoey as a victim of neglect.
Topeka mayor and council talk about girl's violent death
Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla had been thinking all day about Monday's violent death of 5-year-old Zoey Felix, he told the city council Tuesday evening.
"There is no one in the community who isn't impacted by this," said Padilla, a retired law enforcement officer.
Padilla and council members appeared visibly shaken by Zoey's death.
Neighbors describe 'horrible' conditions at house where girl had lived
As neighbors grieved Tuesday afternoon after learning about the violent death of 5-year-old Zoey Felix, they could see items being burned behind the southeast Topeka home where she lived until about two weeks ago.
Two men from Jen's House and Commercial Cleaning LLC were burning what appeared to be wood in a small fire in a barrel in the backyard of the house.
That house had been in "horrible" condition before more recently being cleaned up, Desiree Miles, who lives across the street, told The Capital-Journal.
DCF secretary says she legally can't talk about Zoey Felix's situation
The state's top child welfare official said she legally cannot talk in public about the homeless Topeka 5-year-old who police say was raped and killed earlier this week.
Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard was asked about Zoey Felix's case during Wednesday's regularly scheduled meeting of the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight.
Zoey Felix had dropped out of Topeka USD 501 preschool
Zoey Felix, the 5-year old girl who was raped and killed Monday evening, was a preschool student at Topeka USD 501 last school year, the district confirmed in a statement to the school community Wednesday.
Zoey was a student at Shaner Early Learning Academy for part of the past year but didn't complete the school year. She wasn't enrolled in classes this school year.
Documents show mother of Topeka homicide victim is on probation
Holly Jo Felix — mother of Zoey Felix, 5, who was killed Monday — is on probation for aggravated battery, a felony, committed last year, records show.
Shawnee County District Court records suggest the victim in that case was Zoey.
They identify the victim only as "Z.F." and give her birthdate as XX/XX/2018.
Relative says people were trashing victim's mother's yard
An out-of-state relative of 5-year-old Zoey Felix says her grief over the Topeka girl's violent death is accompanied by concern for the safety of Zoey's mother, 36-year-old Holly Jo Felix.
Strangers, one thought to be armed, were "trashing" the yard of Holly Felix's home, her cousin said.
Topeka police responded about 3:30 p.m. on a report that people the resident didn't know were causing a disturbance, said Gretchen Spiker, communications director for Topeka's city government.
Water and electricity had been shut off at child's former home
Topeka city officials confirmed Wednesday that utilities had previously been shut off to the former home of Zoey Felix.
"A crime was committed, and in part it's believed it's because she was living in the rough, living in what is being described as a homeless tent area," said Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a member of the Kansas Legislature's Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight. "The circumstances are tragic, but part of what precipitated that was no water, no electricity and being evicted, as we're hearing."
Zoey had been living in a homeless camp less than a mile away for about two weeks, neighbors said, which would have been after both water service and electricity had been turned off.
For the past year, the home had electric service until Aug. 14 and service was restored Sept. 13, according to an Evergy spokesperson.
March planned through downtown Topeka for Zoey Felix
Organizers are planning a march in downtown Topeka to demand action following the death of Zoey Felix.
The Facebook event page for March 4 Zoey states it will start about 5 p.m. Saturday with remarks at Evergy Plaza before participants march along S. Kansas Avenue and S.W. 10th Avenue to reach the south steps of the Statehouse.
District attorney charges Mickel Cherry with murder, rape in Zoey Felix's death
Mickel Cherry has been criminally charged in the death of Topeka 5-year-old Zoey Felix, and prosecutors could seek the death penalty.
Shawnee County District Court records released Thursday show Cherry is charged with capital murder, first-degree murder and rape.
Preschool provided a refuge for Zoey Felix
In the rainbow classroom at Shaner Early Learning Academy, preschoolers looked at the family wall to see photos of parents, brothers and sisters. Zoey Felix could look to her teachers and classmates instead. She didn’t need any pictures.
The whole school family kept her clean and clothed, safe and sound. She knew who to run to for a Band-Aid when she scraped her knee on the playground.
When the spring came and Zoey only came to school some days, she looked to her teachers for help with her big feelings.
Looking to donate in Zoey Felix's memory? Here's one way to do it safely.
In the wake of the tragic death of Zoey Felix on Monday, Oct. 2, hundreds of people have looked to help donate to cover her funeral and memorial costs, and her former school district wants to help people do that in a safe manner.
In a message to the district Friday afternoon, Topeka USD 501 superintendent Tiffany Anderson said the school would begin a fund in support of the former Shaner Early Learning Academy student and others like.
Topekans demand 'Justice for Zoey'
The chants of angry marchers rang out in downtown Topeka on Saturday evening, demanding action from elected officials and government authorities after the killing of 5-year-old Zoey Felix.
"Justice for Zoey."
"Zoey mattered."
"Say her name — Zoey."
"Lock the parents up."
What did DCF do with reports about Zoey Felix?
Topekans demanding to know more about what the Kansas Department for Children and Families did with reports about Zoey Felix could already have a summary of that information if the Legislature had passed a bill proposed by DCF two years ago.
But lawmakers didn't pass the bill, and a concerned community is left wondering what the state's child welfare system knew before the 5-year-old homeless girl was raped and killed.
Was site where Zoey Felix last lived unsanitary?
Trash covered the ground Monday at the southeast Topeka campsite where 5-year-old Zoey Felix lived before she was raped and killed Oct. 2.
The property maintenance unit for Topeka's city government is in the process of inspecting that site to determine if sanitation violations are present, a city spokeswoman said early Monday evening.
"If there are, the city will contact the property owner to work with them to remove the blight generated by the encampment," said Gretchen Spiker, the city's communications director.
Zoey Felix's mother being sued for possession of the Topeka house she has been renting
The owner of the house she's been renting is suing Holly Jo Felix, mother of recent child homicide victim Zoey Felix, demanding possession of those premises.
Topeka attorney Larry Tenopir filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of property owner Angela Massengill, according to Shawnee County District Court records.
Zoey Felix is reminder to Shaner to continue to love and keep all preschoolers safe
She meant life, and she was life.
Even in her short five years on Earth, Zoey Felix was full of life and shone as a bright light to all around her, Topeka USD 501 superintendent Tiffany Anderson said.
She pointed out how Zoey's name, Greek in origin, means "life." The Romans, on the other hand, used the Latin term "felix" as their word for "happy."
Court seals Topeka police affidavit in Mickel Cherry murder case
The public will remain in the dark on what Topeka police know about the death of Zoey Felix that led Shawnee County prosecutors to charge Mickel Cherry with child rape and capital murder.
Cherry, who could face the death penalty if convicted, successfully got the Topeka Police Department affidavit sealed in Shawnee County District Court.
He has been accused or raping and killing 5-year-old Zoey, who had recently become homeless, earlier this month. But police, prosecutors and the state's child welfare agency have released little information on what happened.
Before Zoey Felix died, Kansas DCF received child welfare reports
In the last month of Zoey Felix's short life, Kansas child welfare officials made seven attempts to contact her family.
Five home visits, a letter and a phone call by child protective services in September were unsuccessful in reaching the family. Then came the Oct. 2 report to the Kansas Department for Children and Families — the ninth in total — reporting that Zoey had died.
Neighbors have said Zoey was no longer living at home by late September, having been kicked out of her mother's house to live with her father in a homeless camp.
'I've had too much to drink'
Holly Jo Felix — the mother of 5-year-old Zoey Felix, who was killed Oct. 2 — smelled heavily of alcohol and slurred her words after crashing the vehicle she was driving last November with her young daughter as a passenger, court records say.
Holly Felix gave police an incorrect name and birthdate for her daughter, who was riding in her front passenger seat, says a charging affidavit written by Branden Childers, a Topeka police officer, in a case in which she pleaded guilty last March.
After Zoey's death, here's what top Republicans want to change about Kansas laws
After the death of Zoey Felix and the subsequent release of a summary of the state child welfare agency's involvement, the top two Republicans in the Legislature are calling for creation of an independent child advocate's office.
Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, were critical of Gov. Laura Kelly, Lt. Gov. David Toland and the Kansas Department for Children and Families.
'Human error' prevented Topeka police report about Zoey from reaching DCF
Kansas child protective services searched for 5-year-old Zoey Felix and her family seven times in early September.
Despite home visits, a letter and a phone call, they couldn't find her.
Topeka police, however, knew Zoey wasn't living at her mother's house anymore. They found the girl and her parents but didn't tell state officials — contrary to what city officials said publicly earlier this month.
Here's what DCF told us about its oversight of Zoey's case
The death of 5-year-old Zoey Felix has raised alarms about child welfare oversight after neighbors and agencies reported concerns about her safety before she was raped and killed Oct. 2.
While Mickel Cherry has been charged with capital murder, first-degree murder and rape in Zoey's death, many are asking whether the Kansas Department for Children and Families and local authorities could have done more.
DCF issued a summary about the six times it investigated Zoey's family in the past year. That led to more questions.
Here's what we've been able to find out.
Court releases new documents in Mickel Cherry capital murder case
Newly released court documents show Mickel Cherry's defense attorneys have made several requests of the court presiding over his capital murder case.
In the time since a judge blocked the public from accessing a court document detailing the police investigation into the rape and killing of Zoey Felix, public defenders have sought to ban cameras from the courtroom and gag police and prosecutors from talking to the media.
Topeka police found Zoey Felix 'in good spirits,' but won't release body camera video
Topeka Police Department officers said they found Zoey Felix "in good spirits and apparent health" about a month before she was raped and killed, but the city won't release body camera video from that welfare check.
City attorney Amanda Stanley said the video was a criminal investigation record and releasing it could interfere with a criminal prosecution.
Police had been called to the house in the 2200 block of S.E. Market on Sept. 5 for a check welfare call. That had been Zoey's home, but when officers arrived, they were told she was no longer living there because the house had no electricity.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Everything you need to know about 5-year-old Zoey Felix's death
