Crime
Alexzandrea Thomas Speaks Out Following Conviction of Father in Incest and Abuse Case
Now that court proceedings have concluded, Alexzandrea Thomas has chosen to break her silence regarding the years of abuse she endured at the hands of her biological father, Kenneth Cook, who was recently arrested and charged in a high-profile case out of MacArthur, West Virginia.
Cook faces multiple felony charges including sexual abuse by a parent or custodian, third-degree sexual assault, child neglect, and three counts of incest, following a lengthy investigation into the abuse that resulted in the birth of three children.
In a personal statement shared after the trial, Thomas expressed both relief and frustration, addressing the ongoing inquiries and messages she has received since the case became public.
“I’m only speaking out now because I’m overwhelmed with messages, and I want people to understand the truth,” Thomas said. “I reported him repeatedly since I was 9 years old, but no one believed me. My grandmother worked closely with Child Protective Services, and she convinced everyone I was lying.”
She went on to describe a childhood marked by isolation, fear, and ongoing manipulation. “When my grandfather found out, he didn’t even look surprised. The last time I confided in a school guidance counselor, CPS got involved—but once again, my grandmother suppressed the investigation. My father told me if I ever spoke out again, he knew how to make me disappear.”
Thomas said she was denied access to a phone, vehicle, and outside relationships, and that her father intentionally kept her from contact with her mother’s side of the family. “When he realized I was growing close to a neighbor, he threatened to shoot him and made sure I left the room whenever that neighbor came over. He did everything in his power to silence me.”
One of the most distressing parts of her statement involved the birth of her youngest child, who was born with health complications. “My baby spent the first week of his life in the hospital but was denied further medical care afterward,” she said. “I was trying to care for a very sick baby on my own, with no support and no access to healthcare, because he feared the truth would come out.”
The criminal case against Cook was initiated after medical personnel at Charleston Area Medical Center raised concerns about severe malnourishment in the youngest child, who at one year old weighed only six pounds.
Genetic testing subsequently confirmed that the children were the result of a first-degree incestuous relationship between Cook and Thomas.
“I already know he’s a monster—I lived with him. I survived him,” she said. “You don’t know how many times I thought about ending my life, because it felt like it would never stop.”
Thomas ended her statement with a plea for privacy. “To those who are sorry, I appreciate your compassion. To those defending him, stay away from me. I will never forget or forgive what he did, but I’m trying—every day—to heal.”
Kenneth Cook remains in custody at the Southern Regional Jail on a $500,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
Crime
Noemi Hernandez, Mother of Four Murdered By Her Husband Hector Luvianos Two Days Before Christmas
BATAVIA, Ill. — A devastating domestic homicide has left a family and community in mourning just days before Christmas.
Noemi Hernandez, a devoted mother of four, was fatally attacked in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 23, in what prosecutors allege was a violent act committed by her husband.
The incident occurred at an apartment building in the 100 block of Church Street in Batavia.
According to court records and police reports, at approximately 4:37 a.m., Batavia police were dispatched after a man contacted emergency dispatchers and stated that he had killed his wife.
Responding officers located the man outside the apartment building and took him into custody without incident.
When officers entered the apartment, they found Hernandez suffering from severe, life-threatening injuries.
First responders immediately attempted life-saving measures; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the suspect as Hector B. Luvianos, 37, who was transported to the Batavia Police Department for questioning.
With assistance from the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, investigators determined the incident was domestic-related and involved only the two individuals. Police emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
On Dec. 24, 2025, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Batavia Police Chief Eric Blowers announced that Luvianos has been formally charged with first-degree murder, a Class M felony under Illinois law.
He appeared in court the same day for a pretrial detention hearing, after which a judge ordered him held in the Kane County Jail while the case proceeds.
The Kane County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, and an autopsy is scheduled to determine the official cause and manner of Hernandez’s death.
In the wake of the tragedy, Hernandez’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and related expenses.
In the fundraiser, the family described Noemi as “the heart of her family,” noting that she worked tirelessly, loved deeply, and always placed her children first. Her sudden death, they wrote, has left the family emotionally devastated and financially unprepared.
As an immigrant family with limited resources and no life insurance, they now face the burden of funeral and cremation costs, legal fees, and other unexpected expenses, all while supporting four children grieving the loss of their mother.
The family is asking for community support to allow them to lay Noemi to rest with dignity and focus on healing rather than financial hardship.
The investigation remains ongoing.