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.
Christian County, Mo. — Authorities have identified the suspect accused of fatally shooting a deputy with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office during a traffic stop as Richard Bird.
At the time the Blue Alert was issued, the suspect had not yet been taken into custody.
According to law enforcement officials, the deputy initiated a traffic stop involving a 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck along State Highway 160 near Highlandville.
During the stop, the suspect allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding the deputy before fleeing the scene.
The suspect was reported to have traveled southbound on Highway 160 following the shooting.
Authorities described the suspect vehicle as a black 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck equipped with a silver brush guard, black body trim, tinted rear windows, and a three-ball trailer hitch. The vehicle was bearing Missouri license plate 9MG-X36.
A statewide Blue Alert was issued to notify the public and assist in locating the suspect.
Law enforcement officials urged residents not to approach the vehicle or suspect if located, but instead to immediately call 911 and provide detailed information while remaining at a safe distance.
Christian County is situated south of Springfield and north of Branson, an area that sees significant travel due to its proximity to the Ozarks.
Multiple agencies across the region coordinated efforts in response to the alert.
Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting or the status of the investigation.
Law enforcement officials expressed their condolences to the deputy’s family, colleagues, and the community as they continue to pursue justice in the case.