A homeless man in Kansas is now facing murder charges after he was accused of killing and raping a 5-year-old girl in Topeka.
Authorities said the suspect was identified as Mickel Cherry (25-year-old). As of writing, the homeless guy is jailed on a $2 million bond.
Officials haven't disclosed when the man's next court appearance will happen.
Kansas: Homeless Man Allegedly Rapes, Murders 5-Year-Old Girl
According to Fox News' latest report, Cherry is facing one count of first-degree murder, capital murder, and rape in the death of 5-year-old Zoey Felix.
Since he is facing a capital murder, the man could be eligible for the death penalty. But Shawnee County prosecutor Michael Kagay hasn't shared any details if they will seek a death penalty against Cherry.
Meanwhile, the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit said they would represent the homeless man's case. The legal services provider's Chief Capital Defender, Mark Manna, confirmed this.
Although no major details were shared by the latest murder case against the homeless man, Shawnee County Department of Corrections Deputy Director Timothy Phelps confirmed that the suspect and the victim once lived at the same address.
However, it is unclear if the two individuals know each other, especially since Mickel was already homeless when he was arrested.
Authorities said that the houseless guy has no criminal records, except for a misdemeanor criminal trespass conviction in Amarillo, Texas, as reported by News-Press Now.
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What Happened to Zoey?
When they arrived at a gas station, law enforcement officers said fire crews were already attempting to save the girl's life. Unfortunately, she was later pronounced dead.
Based on medical examinations at the hospital, the victim suffered from injuries consistent with sexual assault. Before the incident, neighbors of Zoey's family were already concerned about their situation.
This is because the Felix family had no electricity. To help them, their neighbors even called the police and child welfare.
"She just had a good spirit to her. Honestly, very outgoing, and smart. She was curious about everything. She'd ask you 1,001 questions, and she demanded answers for those too," said Shaniqua Bradley, one of their neighbors.
As of press time, officials haven't released the specific cause of Zoey's death. But it looks like Kagay already considers the investigation complete.
"I think the investigation into the murder and rape of this 5-year-old girl is fairly complete," said the district attorney.
