Kansas – Kansas man pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree murder, and is now facing at least 25 years in prison after he se-ually assaulted and killed 5-year-old child while the girl’s dad was at work. According to the court documents, under Kansas state law, the defendant is now facing life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. But, the judge overseeing this case can order the defendant to serve five decades before he is eligible for parole. The defendant was convicted on Friday, court records say.
The investigation process began in October last year after the 911 caller told the dispatcher about an unresponsive 5-year-old child at the location. First responders arrived on scene, at the homeless camp, and discovered that the child suffered life-threatening injuries. The girl, Zoe, was rushed to the hospital where doctors pronounced her dead. Authorities quickly launched a homicide investigation and took the defendant into custody.
During the investigation process, authorities discovered that the defendant knew the victim because he was living in the same camp as the child. According to the police officials, the child and her father, who was at work when her daughter was killed, were staying at the homeIess camp after the victim’s mom had thrown both out of their house just days before the child’s death.
During an interview with investigators, the defendant reportedly admitted to se-ually assauIting the child before killing her using a piIIow. The man reportedly suffocated the child to death. During the investigation process, authorities discovered that the defendant spent several hours alone with the child while her dad was at work, just across the street.
Other members of the camp reportedly told investigators that the child was often walking alone and unsupervised and took care of herself. Another woman, who was a regular visitor at the camp reportedly told local news outlet that ‘everybody loved the child, except her parents’.