Crime
Murder-Suicide: Man shot his wife at Apple Rehab Cromwell center before turning the gun on himself
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
A devastating incident occurred at the Apple Rehab facility in Cromwell on Friday morning. A man fatally shot his wife, an 81-year-old resident, before turning the gun on himself.
Michael Landi, Apple Rehab’s vice president of operations, confirmed the tragic event.
The shooting took place at 11 a.m. in the victim’s private room, where there were no witnesses present.
Emergency services were immediately notified, and both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s name has not been publicly released.
Landi stated that there were no known threats or indications of violence prior to the incident.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
Apple Rehab is providing comprehensive support and counseling services to its staff and residents in the wake of this tragedy.
KinderCare, located next door to Apple Rehab, implemented a lockdown procedure as a precautionary measure.
This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.
Crime
Kenneth Cook Arrested for Incest After Fathering Three Children with Biological Daughter Alexzandrea Thomas
MacArthur, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including incest, sexual abuse, and child neglect, after authorities discovered he had an incestuous relationship with his biological daughter, resulting in the birth of three children.
According to a criminal complaint, 43-year-old Kenneth Cook, of MacArthur, West Virginia, was taken into custody on Thursday, March 6.
He is facing charges of:
- Sexual abuse by a parent or custodian
- Third-degree sexual assault
- Child neglect
- Three counts of incest
Investigators allege that between 2019 and March 2024, Cook engaged in a non-consensual sexual relationship with his biological daughter, Alexzandrea Thomas, which led to the birth of three children, currently aged 5, 3, and 1.
The complaint states that Alexzandrea Thomas is now 21 years old, meaning that the first child was conceived when she was under the age of 16, and Cook was 38 years old at the time.
Throughout this period, Cook and Thomas were residing together in the same household.
Authorities launched an investigation following a referral from Child Protective Services (CPS) regarding concerns of abuse and neglect involving the youngest child, who, at one year old, weighed only six pounds.
Medical personnel at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) determined that the 1-year-old was severely malnourished and exhibited signs of medical neglect, as his health had continued to deteriorate without proper intervention.
Further concerns were raised when the attending physician noted physical characteristics commonly associated with an incestuous relationship.
This prompted genetic testing, which was conducted on all three children and later sent to the Mayo Clinic for analysis.
The test results confirmed that the children’s parents shared a first-generational biological relationship, indicating that their parents were either a parent and child or full-blooded siblings.
As Thomas has no full-blooded siblings, investigators determined that Cook was the biological father of all three children.
Cook is currently being held at Southern Regional Jail on a $500,000 bond as the investigation continues.