Plea hearing set for man accused of killing Zoey Felix
TOPEKA (KSNT) - A Topeka man accused of raping and killing a young girl at a homeless camp may be about to change his plea.
Mickel Cherry is currently charged with capital murder and rape in the 2023 death of 5-year-old Zoey Felix. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. If convicted of capital murder, Cherry could face the death penalty.
Cherry was expected to appear in court this week for a status conference. But according to court documents filed by prosecutors on Dec. 2, he will instead be in court Dec. 13 for a plea hearing. Cherry remains in custody at the Shawnee County jail on a $2 million bond.
Details of a possible plea deal are unavailable at this time. KSNT 27 News reached out to both Shawnee County District Attorney Michael Kagay's office and the team of public defenders with the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit who represent Cherry for comment. Cherry's defense team declined to comment, but confirmed their client was scheduled to enter a new plea on Dec. 13. We had not heard back from the district attorney's office by the time of this article's publication.
Topeka police said Cherry raped and killed Felix on October 2, 2023, near a campsite in southeast Topeka where she and her father were reportedly living after they were kicked out of their home. Felix's death resulted in the Kansas Department of Children and Families changing its policy after an investigation found human error prevented the agency from learning about her living situation.
If you are aware of a family who may need support, there are resources in the community that can help. Anyone in the state can use 1-800-CHILDREN. If you suspect a child may be the victim of abuse or neglect, you are urged to call the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330.
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