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.
CHICAGO — A 37-year-old Chicago photographer was fatally shot Sunday night in the West Pullman neighborhood, according to the Chicago Police Department.
The victim was identified as Troy Hollingsworth, owner of PolaBear Red Filmz.
Police said Hollingsworth was seated inside his Nissan Maxima in the 100 block of East 118th Place at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 18, when an unknown individual opened fire.
Hollingsworth was struck multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities confirmed.
At this time, no suspects are in custody, and detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Additional details have not been released as the investigation remains ongoing.