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.
SPENCER, OKLAHOMA — Authorities have confirmed that a 17-year-old student was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon following a violent altercation near Star Spencer High School in Spencer, Oklahoma.
According to the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded shortly after an altercation broke out among a group of juveniles near the intersection of Northeast 34th Street and Spencer Road.
During the confrontation, one of the individuals reportedly produced a firearm and opened fire, striking a male teenager.
Emergency personnel transported the victim to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The victim was later identified by Oklahoma City Public Schools officials as 17-year-old Sebastian Guyton, a student at Star Spencer High School.
Following the shooting, law enforcement initiated a search of the area. One suspect was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit, though authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the individual’s identity or potential charges.
As a precaution, several nearby schools were placed on temporary lockdown while officers secured the area.
Classes at Star Spencer High School have been canceled for the remainder of the week in light of the tragedy.
In a statement released Wednesday, Star Spencer High School officials expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their student:
“Please help keep our Bobcat family and friends in your thoughts during this very difficult time,” the statement read.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.