Topline: Court records show the children were born from the abuse and lived in dangerous conditions without medical care.
Published: June 16, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Kenneth Cook (via Southern Regional Jail)
RALEIGH COUNTY, WV – A West Virginia man is accused of sexually abusing his daughter and fathering three of her children.
Kenneth Ray Cook, 43, of MacArthur, stands accused of a staggering array of charges, including incest and severe child neglect, according to WVVA.
The allegations involve an alleged non-consensual, incestuous relationship with his daughter that reportedly resulted in the birth of three children, who law enforcement later found to be suffering from neglect.
Cook is currently held in Southern Regional Jail on a $500,000 cash or surety bond. His charges include multiple counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or custodian to a child, three counts of incest, and one count of sexual assault in the third degree.
He also faces 149 counts of gross neglect of a child, which allege the creation of a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. He is scheduled to appear back in court on June 24 for a formal arraignment.
Adding another layer to the case, the victim has shared her ordeal in a viral Facebook post following the conclusion of recent court proceedings.
In her statement, she revealed a history of abuse that began when she was just nine years old.
“I have reported him MULTIPLE times since I was 9 years old,” she wrote, recounting how her grandmother, who allegedly “worked hand in hand with CPS,” would reportedly ensure her pleas went unheard, convincing authorities she was fabricating stories.
She recalled her grandfather showing no surprise upon learning of the abuse and a chilling threat from Cook after a guidance counselor called CPS: “my dad told me if I ever told again he knew ways to get me erased.”
The impact of the alleged abuse extended to the well-being of her children. “My youngest was born with health issues and stayed in the hospital the first week of his life,” she said, “but wasn’t aloud to go to the doctors afterward bc he was scared of the truth of what he had done leaking out.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Authorities: Father Sexually Abused Daughter for Years, Leading to Birth of Three Children
Court records show the children were born from the abuse and lived in dangerous conditions without medical care.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 16, 2025 8:00 am ET
Kenneth Cook (via Southern Regional Jail)
RALEIGH COUNTY, WV – A West Virginia man is accused of sexually abusing his daughter and fathering three of her children.
Kenneth Ray Cook, 43, of MacArthur, stands accused of a staggering array of charges, including incest and severe child neglect, according to WVVA.
The allegations involve an alleged non-consensual, incestuous relationship with his daughter that reportedly resulted in the birth of three children, who law enforcement later found to be suffering from neglect.
Cook is currently held in Southern Regional Jail on a $500,000 cash or surety bond. His charges include multiple counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or custodian to a child, three counts of incest, and one count of sexual assault in the third degree.
He also faces 149 counts of gross neglect of a child, which allege the creation of a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. He is scheduled to appear back in court on June 24 for a formal arraignment.
Adding another layer to the case, the victim has shared her ordeal in a viral Facebook post following the conclusion of recent court proceedings.
In her statement, she revealed a history of abuse that began when she was just nine years old.
“I have reported him MULTIPLE times since I was 9 years old,” she wrote, recounting how her grandmother, who allegedly “worked hand in hand with CPS,” would reportedly ensure her pleas went unheard, convincing authorities she was fabricating stories.
She recalled her grandfather showing no surprise upon learning of the abuse and a chilling threat from Cook after a guidance counselor called CPS: “my dad told me if I ever told again he knew ways to get me erased.”
The impact of the alleged abuse extended to the well-being of her children. “My youngest was born with health issues and stayed in the hospital the first week of his life,” she said, “but wasn’t aloud to go to the doctors afterward bc he was scared of the truth of what he had done leaking out.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Authorities: Father Sexually Abused Daughter for Years, Leading to Birth of Three Children
Court records show the children were born from the abuse and lived in dangerous conditions without medical care.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 16, 2025 8:00 am ET
Kenneth Cook (via Southern Regional Jail)
RALEIGH COUNTY, WV – A West Virginia man is accused of sexually abusing his daughter and fathering three of her children.
Kenneth Ray Cook, 43, of MacArthur, stands accused of a staggering array of charges, including incest and severe child neglect, according to WVVA.
The allegations involve an alleged non-consensual, incestuous relationship with his daughter that reportedly resulted in the birth of three children, who law enforcement later found to be suffering from neglect.
Cook is currently held in Southern Regional Jail on a $500,000 cash or surety bond. His charges include multiple counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or custodian to a child, three counts of incest, and one count of sexual assault in the third degree.
He also faces 149 counts of gross neglect of a child, which allege the creation of a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. He is scheduled to appear back in court on June 24 for a formal arraignment.
Adding another layer to the case, the victim has shared her ordeal in a viral Facebook post following the conclusion of recent court proceedings.
In her statement, she revealed a history of abuse that began when she was just nine years old.
“I have reported him MULTIPLE times since I was 9 years old,” she wrote, recounting how her grandmother, who allegedly “worked hand in hand with CPS,” would reportedly ensure her pleas went unheard, convincing authorities she was fabricating stories.
She recalled her grandfather showing no surprise upon learning of the abuse and a chilling threat from Cook after a guidance counselor called CPS: “my dad told me if I ever told again he knew ways to get me erased.”
The impact of the alleged abuse extended to the well-being of her children. “My youngest was born with health issues and stayed in the hospital the first week of his life,” she said, “but wasn’t aloud to go to the doctors afterward bc he was scared of the truth of what he had done leaking out.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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