Zoey Felix, a 5-year-old girl from Topeka, Kansas, was raped and murdered at a homeless camp in the woods on or around October 2, 2023. Approximately two weeks earlier, her mother, Holly Jo Felix, had kicked Zoey, her father, and a sister out of the family home, forcing them to live at a campsite about a mile away. Mickel Cherry, 25, a homeless acquaintance who had previously lived in the same house as the family, was arrested and charged with capital murder and child rape. Zoey was found at a gas station with life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, where she died. Prior to her death, Kansas DCF had received nine reports about Zoey over more than a year — involving allegations of poor home conditions, drug use, lack of supervision, and no utilities — but DCF was unable to make contact with the family during the critical final month despite seven attempts. The child's home lacked running water, was filled with feces, and neighbors had been feeding and clothing Zoey because her parents did not. The mother had a prior conviction for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon against Zoey.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The NY Post article states neighbors "often saw the young girl running around unsupervised." The Capital-Journal article documents a DCF report on Nov. 8, 2022 "about an unsupervised child," and a Nov. 18, 2022 report where Zoey's mother was arrested for DUI with "Zoey had been unrestrained in the front seat." The DCF also substantiated a "Lack of Supervision finding against the mother."
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The child was raped and murdered, constituting inflicted injury. Additionally, the NY Post article states that the mother "pleaded guilty in March to aggravated battery causing bodily harm with a deadly weapon to a child born in 2018," identified by the initials "Z.F." — referring to Zoey Felix. This documents both the fatal injuries and a prior inflicted injury by the mother.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The NY Post article quotes a neighbor saying "She's always dirty, no food unless some of us fed her." Another neighbor, Shaniqua Bradley, said "Zoey would often come by her house for something to eat while roaming the neighborhood." The community had to work "together to help keep her bathed, clothed and fed." These statements indicate the child had inadequate access to food at home, strongly implying food deprivation and potential malnutrition.
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
The NY Post article reports the child was "raped and murdered at a homeless camp in the woods" and that her family was "forcing them to live at a campsite about a mile away." This indicates the child was living outdoors in a wooded area at the time of her death.
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
The NY Post article states Mickel Cherry was "charged with murder and rape of a victim less than 14." The Capital-Journal article states he was charged with "child rape and capital murder." Additionally, the DCF summary states: "The Sexual Abuse case was substantiated."
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The NY Post article states the child's father was living with Zoey at the homeless camp after the mother kicked them out. The Capital-Journal confirms Zoey was "kicked out of her mother's house to live with her father in a homeless camp." As the custodial caretaker at the camp where Zoey was raped and murdered, the father's failure to protect and supervise the child contributed to the circumstances of her death, though he was not charged or directly implicated as a perpetrator.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Holly Jo Felix, kicked Zoey and her father out of the house approximately two weeks before the child's death, forcing the 5-year-old to live at a homeless camp in the woods. This action directly placed the child in the dangerous environment where she was raped and murdered. The NY Post reports neighbors say the mother "kicked them all to the curb about two weeks ago, forcing them to live at a campsite about a mile away." Additionally, the mother had a prior conviction for aggravated battery against Zoey and a history of neglect. DCF officially declared that Zoey "died due to abuse or neglect."
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Mickel Cherry, 25, was charged with child rape and capital murder. The Capital-Journal describes him as "a homeless acquaintance." The NY Post notes that he "had at one point lived in the same house as Zoey along with her father and sister." While his exact relationship to the family is unclear (he was not a parent or formal caregiver), he was a male acquaintance/friend connected to the family who directly perpetrated the child's death.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The Capital-Journal article provides detailed documentation of nine DCF reports about Zoey prior to her death. "The agency received nine total reports involving Zoey. Six were assigned for investigation." The first report came on Sept. 8, 2022, more than a year before Zoey died, with subsequent reports on Nov. 8, 2022, Nov. 18, 2022, May 18, 2023, Aug. 29, 2023, and others. The NY Post article also confirms: "Bradley and other neighbors said they made numerous reports to the Kansas Department for Children and Families in the weeks leading up to her death."
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The NY Post article states: "Mickel W. Cherry, 25, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murder and rape of a victim less than 14." The Capital-Journal adds he was charged with "child rape and capital murder." He was held on a $2 million bond.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The NY Post article states the child was "raped and murdered at a homeless camp in the woods" after her mother "kicked her and other family members out of their house." The Capital-Journal confirms she had been "kicked out of her mother's house to live with her father in a homeless camp." Mickel Cherry is described as "a homeless acquaintance."
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The NY Post article states: "Zoey's mother pleaded guilty in March to aggravated battery causing bodily harm with a deadly weapon to a child born in 2018. The child was identified by the initials 'Z.F.'" The Capital-Journal confirms the mother, Holly Jo Felix, was "arrested for allegedly driving under the influence" on Nov. 18, 2022, and "ultimately got sentenced to probation after entering a plea deal with the district attorney's office." Both the battery conviction and DUI arrest predate the child's death in October 2023 and are separate from the current fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Capital-Journal article documents multiple DCF reports referencing parental substance use. The Sept. 8, 2022 report included "allegations including poor conditions in the home and possible drug use in the presence of a child." On Aug. 29, 2023, "DCF received another report of no utilities plus drug use." Additionally, on Nov. 18, 2022, "Zoey's mother had been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence."
Notable Details
Multiple significant systemic and policy failures are documented. The Capital-Journal article details that DCF received nine total reports about Zoey, yet in the critical last month of her life, "seven attempts to contact her family" — including "five home visits, a letter and a phone call" — were all unsuccessful. The family repeatedly "declined" offered services. The mother had a prior conviction for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon against this same child (identified as Z.F.) yet the child was not removed from the home. Gov. Kelly noted that her administration "proposed legislation in 2021 to allow the Department for Children and Families to expedite the release of information in cases like Zoey's," but "The bill passed a House committee, but leadership never brought it up for a vote on the House floor." The court also sealed a police affidavit at the request of Cherry's defense team, and the DA had not yet decided whether to pursue the death penalty. Kansas state lawmakers demanded answers, with Sen. Baumgardner stating "We really need a deep dive on why the system is failing."
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