Remember Her Name

 Zoey Felix. Five years old. Remember her name.

Zoey Felix was brutally raped and murdered by a man her farther knew.

Zoey, her father and her sister, were homeless, as was her attacker. They lived in a tent in some trees visible from the gas station where her father worked. This is where Zoey was attacked and raped.

Zoey, with her bruised, beaten, and broken body, tried with her last ounces of energy to get to her father, but fell in the field beside the gas station.  With her dying breath, she tried to get help. Remember her name.

Where was her mom? Oh, Mom was on probation for child abuse. Zoey Felix. Remember her name. She was just five years old.

Neighbors looked out for her. She played with their children. She even went to preschool for a time. There were calls to DCF. Before being evicted, they house she stayed in lacked utilities. She was often left alone and wandered the neighborhood. She was FIVE YEARS OLD.  She was failed by DCF. She was failed by her preschool. She was failed by her neighbors. She was failed by her family. Remember her name.

In the past two years, DCF received twenty-three calls regarding the household of Zoey Felix. TWENTY THREE calls in two years. And still, Zoey was at home, left alone to wander the streets of Topeka, being cared for, bathed. and fed by neighbors. DCF did nothing. Remember her name.

Zoey was five years old. She lived in a homeless tent city. She was left unsupervised by her father. She was raped and murdered by a twenty five year old homeless man. She was failed by the very systems and people who were supposed to keep her safe-to protect her. Those people should be held accountable. I hope that they are.

With Zoey's dying breath, she tried to get to her father. EMTs tried to save her life, but her tiny body was too bruised and beaten.

Zoey Felix. Remember her name.