Billy Jack Cook (Photo from Hendersonville Police)HENDERSONVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
A man has been charged in Hendersonville with raping several young children, and police fear more children may have been victimized.
Police are not releasing too many details of the crimes, fearing the children's identities could be compromised, but they said suspect Billy Jack Cook, 27, is no stranger to crime.
Officers were investigating a burglary when they discovered evidence of the crimes against children. Police believe Cook had contact with more than one child - including one who is under the age of 13 and another who is 3 years old or younger.
"Anytime we have a circumstance where children are abused, there is the potential for more victims, because we all have been shown over the years not one or two but multiple incidents have occurred," said Hendersonville Police Lt. Scott Ryan.
Police said Cook knew his victims, and there could be more. While they are not releasing information on where Cook first encountered his victims, police said they don't believe it was at school or a child care facility.
"At this point in our investigation we do not have any reason to believe day cares or schools or any public facilities are involved," Ryan said.
Cook has been charged with child rape and aggravated child rape. Anyone who knows of other possible victims is urged to call Hendersonville police or Crime Stoppers.
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