Husband ‘not worried’ about Lauren Cook missing with her kids
The husband of Virginia mother Lauren Cook, who has been missing along with her three young children for two weeks, said he has “no reason to be concerned” about his family’s disappearance.
Jordan Cook claimed Monday that he had been in contact with his wife of 30 years and denied that their children, ages 2 to 7, were missing – even though they were listed on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website.
“Contrary to reports, my wife and children are not ‘missing,'” Jordan Cook said a statement to ABC13. “I have no reason to be concerned about their safety or well-being.”
“I have heard from my wife and I am sure that she and my children are fine,” he added. “We ask that our family’s privacy be respected at this time.”
In response to the husband’s comments, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia said released an update on his Facebook page on Tuesday, explaining that in order to release Lauren Cook and her children as “missing persons,” a law enforcement agency must “make personal contact with them to confirm that they are OK and not under duress.” . ”
Until then, the family of four will continue to be listed as “missing” in local and national databases.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Sgt. Megan Huston confirmed that the search for his wife and children continues despite Jordan Cook’s statement.
“If the husband has had contact with Lauren since then, we don’t know about it,” she said said USA Today Tuesday.
The sheriff’s office has provided additional details about the missing persons investigation that began Sept. 13 after the mother of three failed to appear for a scheduled appearance in Franklin County Juvenile and Family Court.
“This court date has already been rescheduled for September 5, 2023, at which time Lauren failed to appear,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook update. It was not said what the hearing was about.
Follow-up interviews with family members revealed that there had been no known contact with Lauren Cook since September 5 or 6, when she claimed she had been in New York to visit other relatives.
Last Thursday, sheriff’s investigators determined that the missing mother and her children were in Litchfield, Illinois – more than 700 miles west of their home in the small community of Ferrum, Virginia.
Sergeant. Huston previously said Lauren Cook’s bank account had no recent activity and her cell phone was last pinged on Sept. 7 in Lexington, Virginia.
Jordan and Lauren Cook reportedly live together and share sole custody of their children: 7-year-old Benjamin, 5-year-old Hannah and 2-year-old Elijah.
In Franklin County, there are no records of domestic violence between the couple or 911 calls to their home.
The missing mother may be traveling in a blue 2013 Chrysler van with Virginia tags.
Officials in Franklin County urged anyone who knows where the woman and her children may be to contact law enforcement.
