Crime
Birmingham Man Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash on City’s Southwest Side
Birmingham, Ala. – A Birmingham man lost his life in a single-vehicle crash over the weekend on the city’s southwest side, authorities confirmed.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 31-year-old Langston Jacob Thomas.
The crash occurred at approximately 12:43 a.m. on Sunday in the 2800 block of Wilson Road S.W.
Details regarding the circumstances of the wreck have not yet been released.
Emergency medical personnel transported Thomas to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 1:19 a.m.
The Birmingham Police Department is conducting an ongoing investigation into the crash.
Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
Crime
Kenneth Cook Arrested for Incest After Fathering Three Children with Biological Daughter Alexzandrea Thomas
MacArthur, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including incest, sexual abuse, and child neglect, after authorities discovered he had an incestuous relationship with his biological daughter, resulting in the birth of three children.
According to a criminal complaint, 43-year-old Kenneth Cook, of MacArthur, West Virginia, was taken into custody on Thursday, March 6.
He is facing charges of:
- Sexual abuse by a parent or custodian
- Third-degree sexual assault
- Child neglect
- Three counts of incest
Investigators allege that between 2019 and March 2024, Cook engaged in a non-consensual sexual relationship with his biological daughter, Alexzandrea Thomas, which led to the birth of three children, currently aged 5, 3, and 1.
The complaint states that Alexzandrea Thomas is now 21 years old, meaning that the first child was conceived when she was under the age of 16, and Cook was 38 years old at the time.
Throughout this period, Cook and Thomas were residing together in the same household.
Authorities launched an investigation following a referral from Child Protective Services (CPS) regarding concerns of abuse and neglect involving the youngest child, who, at one year old, weighed only six pounds.
Medical personnel at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) determined that the 1-year-old was severely malnourished and exhibited signs of medical neglect, as his health had continued to deteriorate without proper intervention.
Further concerns were raised when the attending physician noted physical characteristics commonly associated with an incestuous relationship.
This prompted genetic testing, which was conducted on all three children and later sent to the Mayo Clinic for analysis.
The test results confirmed that the children’s parents shared a first-generational biological relationship, indicating that their parents were either a parent and child or full-blooded siblings.
As Thomas has no full-blooded siblings, investigators determined that Cook was the biological father of all three children.
Cook is currently being held at Southern Regional Jail on a $500,000 bond as the investigation continues.