Chapter 1: The Life of Zoey Felix

Zoey Felix was born to Holly Jo Felix and Ezequiel Felix-Guerrero. Tragically, she found herself living in a homeless encampment with her father and half-sister, just under a mile from their original home, following an alleged eviction by her mother.

On the evening of October 2, 2023, Topeka police received a distress call shortly before 6 p.m. regarding an incident at the fuel pumps outside a Dillons store in Kansas. Upon their arrival, they discovered that first responders from the Topeka Fire Department were desperately attempting to revive young Zoey. Sadly, she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The authorities did not disclose her cause of death, given the sensitive nature of the case and Zoey's young age.

It was not unusual to see Zoey wandering alone in her southeast Topeka neighborhood. At just 5 years old, she largely took care of herself, with local residents stepping in to help ensure she was fed, clothed, and clean. Despite multiple reports made by neighbors to the Kansas Department for Children and Families about her suspected neglect, officials met with her and determined that she seemed to be in good spirits, leaving without taking further action.

Zoey's mother had forced the family to vacate their home, which led to them setting up a makeshift campsite among the trees nearby. Records indicate that in September 2023, police were called to the home twice due to domestic disturbances, both occurring within an hour. Prior investigations by DCF were initiated back in September 2022 due to concerns over the living conditions and possible drug use in the presence of a child. Although her mother underwent a drug test as part of the investigation, the results were negative.

Court documents reveal that Zoey's mother had previously been convicted of aggravated violence against another child in 2018. Following that incident, Zoey was briefly placed in protective custody before being reunited with her family later that same day. She was placed on supervised probation for 18 months.

After Zoey's tragic death, the Kansas DCF released a summary indicating that there had been previous evidence of sexual abuse and that the family had declined offers for assistance from the agency. In May 2023, reports surfaced indicating that the conditions in Zoey's home were unsuitable for a child. Though investigators found working utilities and food in the home, they could not substantiate claims of drug use during their follow-up.

Subsequently, DCF attempted to reach the family multiple times but were unsuccessful, visiting the home on several occasions in September. Following Zoey's death, an investigation was promptly launched, leading to a suspect identified less than 24 hours later: Mickel W. Cherry, a homeless man familiar with the family.

Mickel Cherry, 25, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder and rape, with a bond set at $2 million. While he had no significant prior criminal record, it was reported that he had lived intermittently with the Felix family, raising questions about his relationship with them.

Following public outcry for transparency surrounding the family's prior interactions with DCF, it was revealed that nine reports had been filed about their situation, with six of those leading to further investigations. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly expressed her dismay over the incident, emphasizing the need for legislative action to expedite the release of information in similar cases.

Despite promises from government officials to reassess the agency's policies, the reality remains that a young girl lost her life due to systemic failures. Mickel Cherry's court proceedings are set for December 2023, where he faces severe charges, including potential capital punishment.

The defense has sought to limit media presence during the trial, citing concerns over the jury's impartiality. While the court has restricted pre-trial media access, requests for public transparency at trial can be revisited.

This case raises pressing questions about the responsibilities of our legal and social systems to protect vulnerable children like Zoey Felix. As we seek to understand the failures that led to her tragic end, society must reflect on how to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Chapter 2: The Impact of Childhood Trauma

This video discusses the troubling outcomes of childhood abuse, focusing on the case of Beth Thomas, who endured severe trauma and developed disturbing behaviors as a result.

In this video, we explore a case where an individual who abused a child seeks a pardon to adopt a child of his own, raising concerns about the justice system and child protection.