Zoey Felix.Photo:GoFundMe

Zoey Felix

GoFundMe

The death of 5-year-oldZoey Felixhas many outraged and wondering why more wasn’t done to protect the Kansas child after multiple concerns were raised regarding her living conditions.

A memorial honors 5-year-old Zoey Felix.John Hanna/AP Photo

A memorial along a sidewalk along a vacant, wooded lot honors 5-year-old murder victim Zoey Felix, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, in Topeka, Kan. She and her father had camped for several weeks in the grove of trees in the distance, and a homeless 25-year-old man is charged with killing and raping her.

John Hanna/AP Photo

Her family declined help from the agency on several occasions, ABC News reports.

The documents date back to September 2022 for reports of offenses such as “poor conditions in the home and possible drug use in the presence of a child.”

In other instances, the agency was called to investigate claims of lack of supervision and Zoey’s mother was arrested for driving under the influence while Zoey was in the front seat, The AP reports. According to the outlet, her mother pleaded guilty to felony aggravated battery and driving under the influence.

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Mickel Wayne Cherry, suspect accused of raping and killing 5-year-old Zoey Felix.Shawnee County Department of Corrections

Mickel Wayne Cherry, suspect accused of raping and killing 5 year old Zoey Felix

Shawnee County Department of Corrections

On Oct. 2,Zoey was killed.Mickel W. Cherry, 25, an unhoused resident of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Jail in connection with her death less than 24 hours later.

At the time, the Topeka Police Department said Cherry was known to the victim.KWCH 12reported that he lived in the same homeless camp as her family.

A campsite where 5-year-old Zoey Felix once lived.Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK

A campsite where 5-year-old Zoey Felix once lived remains in place Monday afternoon in a wooded area just north of Dillons at 2010 S.E. 29th St.

Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK

Cherry has since been charged with first-degree murder, rape and capital murder.

“Our office has been appointed to represent Mr. Cherry in his capital murder case. A team of attorneys [have] been assigned to handle the criminal matter,” Mark Manna of the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit told PEOPLE in a statement, but declined to comment further on the case.

Zoey’s exactcause of deathhas not yet been revealed.

“How was that child not removed? It doesn’t make any sense,” Mike Fonkert, deputy director of Kansas Appleseed, added, per the outlet.

“We will take every step necessary to determine if there are policies and procedures that can be revised or added to effectively support families and help prevent another case like this from happening again,” Howard said.

“Zoey Felix’s death was an unacceptable tragedy,” Gov. Laura Kelly said in a statement. “My administration proposed legislation in 2021 to allow the Department for Children and Families to expedite the release of information in cases like Zoey’s. We will urge the Legislature to get that bill to my desk early in the next legislative session.”

source: people.com