Crime
Kenneth Cook Indicted on 152 Charges in Decade-Long Incest and Abuse Case Involving His Daughter Alexzandrea Thomas
BECKLEY, W.Va. — A West Virginia man is facing a staggering 152 criminal charges, including 149 counts of incest, after allegedly subjecting his biological daughter to more than a decade of sexual abuse that resulted in the birth of three children.
Kenneth Ray Cook, 44, of Raleigh County, is accused of beginning the abuse in 2012, when his daughter, Alexzandrea Thomas, was just 9 years old.
According to court documents, the abuse continued uninterrupted until she was 21.
Initially arrested in April, Cook was charged with multiple offenses, including sexual abuse, sexual assault, child neglect, and three counts of incest. However, following a June 3 grand jury indictment—based in part on the testimony of a sheriff’s deputy—Cook now faces an expanded list of charges totaling 152.
The most recent charges, according to court filings, are dated July 2024.
Authorities say the case came to light earlier this year, and a subsequent investigation revealed that three children had been born as a result of the alleged abuse.
Those children have since been found in a state of neglect. One of them—a 1-year-old—was discovered in particularly poor conditions in August, prompting additional charges related to child welfare.
Cook has been held at the Southern Regional Jail since March and remains in custody on a $500,000 bond.
This case has sparked widespread outrage and renewed discussions about how long-term abuse can go undetected.
Officials have not commented on whether other individuals may face charges in connection with the alleged failure to report or intervene during the years of abuse.
The investigation remains ongoing.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.