In Topeka, Kansas, a tragic story has unfolded involving a young girl and a man who has now admitted to committing horrific crimes. Mickel Cherry, a 26-year-old man, has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and rape in connection with the death of a 5-year-old girl named Zoey Felix.
The incident took place in October 2023 when Cherry was living in a makeshift camp with Zoey and her father. According to prosecutors, he confessed to suffocating Zoey with a pillow while they were alone in a tent. Medical examinations later revealed injuries that indicated she had been sexually assaulted, with DNA evidence leading back to Cherry.
By pleading guilty, Cherry has avoided the death penalty, which he could have faced if convicted of capital murder. The district attorney, Mike Kagay, noted that there are indications Cherry has an intellectual disability, which would prevent him from being executed under state and federal laws. In court, Cherry described himself as “mentally slow,” saying he struggles to learn.
While the capital murder charge could have led to a swift execution, Kansas hasn’t carried out any executions since 1965. Instead, Cherry will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for at least 25 years. However, the judge has the discretion to increase that to 50 years, and Kagay is pushing for the longer sentence.
The sentencing is scheduled to take place from June 2-4, 2025. Cherry’s attorney requested more time to look into Cherry’s past interactions with the Texas foster care system, which they believe could be relevant to his case.
During the court hearing, Cherry appeared somber, looking down and remaining silent as he answered questions. He was dressed in a yellow jail jumpsuit and kept in handcuffs throughout the proceedings. The emotional toll of the case was evident, especially for Aimee Slusser, a friend of Zoey’s father, who broke down in tears when the prosecutor shared details about the medical evidence of the assault. She expressed her deep sadness over the loss of the little girl, stating, “Whatever he gets, it won’t bring her back.”
Zoey’s father was present in the courtroom but chose not to speak afterward. The community is asking difficult questions about why the state didn’t remove Zoey from what many consider a dangerous home environment. Advocates for child welfare have pointed out that the state had investigated Zoey’s family multiple times over the past year, but they couldn’t confirm claims of neglect or drug use by her mother, even after she had been arrested for drunk driving with Zoey in the car.
Records show that Topeka police had been called to Zoey’s mother’s home numerous times, with neighbors reporting seeing the little girl wandering outside, dirty and hungry. Just weeks before her death, Zoey and her father were forced out of their home and ended up living in a tent in a vacant lot.
Cherry had been involved with Zoey’s family before they moved to the camp, but details about how and when he met them remain unclear. There are police records indicating he had lived at the mother’s home shortly before the tragedy.
Before coming to Topeka, Cherry had a troubled life in Amarillo, Texas, marked by periods of homelessness. In court, he admitted to having mental health issues and is currently on medication for anxiety, depression, and ADHD. His past includes incidents like mistreating an animal and being jailed for trespassing, painting a picture of a life filled with struggles.
This heartbreaking case has left the community in shock, raising questions about child welfare and the systems in place to protect vulnerable children like Zoey.
