Topeka Capital-Journal. October 8, 2023.
Editorial: A lot of people and agencies let down Zoey Felix. We can honor her by demanding changes
Zoey Felix will forever be a 5-year-old child.
She was raped and killed Monday in southeast Topeka.
That alone is tragic beyond comprehension.
Topeka police have arrested Mickel Cherry, 25, who was jailed in connection with rape and first-degree murder in the commission of a felony.
Zoey was Topeka’s 26th homicide victim this year.
Sadly, there’s so much more to this story.
Neighbors told The Capital-Journal that Zoey often roamed her neighborhood from late morning until dark unsupervised.
She didn’t go to school this year after attending Shaner Early Learning Academy part of last year.
The girl “pretty much took care of herself,” said Shaniqua Bradley, who lived next door to her until recent weeks.
The house she lived in — in the 2200 block of S.E. Market — often lacked running water and electricity. Those same neighbors say there were feces inside from dogs.
The neighbors told The Capital-Journal they tried to help her. Some of them took her in to bathe her, clothe her and comb her hair. They also often fed her. They described Zoey as having a “glow” about her, calling her bubbly, curious and outgoing.
Zoey, her father and others living in the home were recently kicked out. They made camp less than a mile away.
“Everybody on the block took care of Zoey,” said Sheryl Tyree, who didn’t live in the neighborhood but spent much time there. “Everybody loved Zoey, except her parents.”
Zoey deserved a safe and loving home. She didn’t have that.
The neighbors called the Kansas Department for Children and Families trying to get help for Zoey multiple times. They say no help came. DCF said it can’t share details with the public yet.
Someone let Zoey down. That dereliction of duty cost Zoey her life. The system that was supposed to intervene didn’t. That can’t be forgotten and must be fixed.
“The system failed her,” said Desiree Miles, who lived across the street.
DCF will have much to answer in the coming days. Who took those calls from neighbors? How many other Topeka individuals and groups made calls? What was done? Who knew what and when? Where was the breakdown?
But we need more than answers.
Agency leaders need to be as transparent as possible. The system can’t be fixed without a true account of what did or didn’t happen. We need more accountability and reassurances to make sure this cannot and will not happen to other children.
Topeka leaders also need to take her story into account when they talk about homelessness. And soon — please, sometime soon — that talk needs to turn into action.
Our hearts ache for Zoey. We can honor her memory by demanding justice.
May she rest in peace.
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