Husband ‘not concerned’ about Lauren Cook missing with kids

September 20, 2023

The husband of Virginia mother Lauren Cook, who has been missing along with their three young children for two weeks, has said he’s got “no reason to be concerned” about his family’s disappearance.

Jordan Cook claimed Monday he has had contact with his 30-year-old wife and denied that their kids, ranging in age from 2 to 7, were unaccounted for — despite being listed on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website.

“Contrary to what has been reported, my wife and children are not ‘missing,’” Jordan Cook said in 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’m sure she and my children are doing well,” 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 released an update on its Facebook page Tuesday, explaining that in order to clear Lauren Cook and her children as being “missing persons,” a law enforcement agency must make “in-person contact with them in order to confirm that they are okay and not under duress.”

Jordan Cook said Monday he has “no reason to be concerned” for his wife, Lauren Cook, and their three young children, who have been listed as missing for a week.

Lauren Cook’s husband claimed he has been in contact with his wife and said he was “sure” she and their kids were “doing well.”

Until that happens, the family of four will continue being listed as “missing” in local and national databases.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Sgt. Megan Huston confirmed that regardless of Jordan Cook’s statement, the search for his wife and children is ongoing.

“If the husband has had contact with Lauren since then, we aren’t aware of it,” she told USA Today Tuesday.

The sheriff’s office has shared additional details on the missing persons probe, which was launched on Sept. 13, after the mom of three failed to show up for a scheduled appearance in Franklin County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Lauren Cook seen in undated photo — Cook was reported as missing on Sept. 13, after she missed an appearance in family court.

“This court date had already been rescheduled from a previous date of September 5th, 2023, where Lauren did not appear,” a Facebook update from the sheriff’s office stated. It did not say what the hearing was about.

Follow-up interviews with family members revealed that there has been no known contact with Lauren Cook since Sept. 5 or 6, when she claimed she was in New York visiting other relatives.

Last Thursday, sheriff’s investigators were able to establish that the missing mom and her children were in Litchfield, Illinois — more than 700 miles west of their home in the small community of Ferrum, Virginia.

Huston previously said Lauren Cook’s bank account has shown no recent activity and her cellphone last pinged on Sept. 7 in Lexington, Virginia.

Lauren Cook's 5-year-old daughter, Hannah — Officials in Virginia said in order for Lauren Cook and her children, ages 2, 5 and 7, to be cleared as “missing persons,” a law enforcement officer must make in-person contact with them.

Benjamin Cook, 7 — The woman and her children were said to have made it to Illinois, more than 700 miles from their home in rural Virginia.

Elijah Cook, 2 — There has been no activity on Lauren Cook’s bank account in recent weeks.

Jordan and Lauren Cook reportedly live together and share full custody of their children: 7-year-old Benjamin, 5-year-old Hannah and 2-year-old Elijah.

There are no records in Franklin County of any domestic violence between the couple or any 911 calls for their home.

The missing mom 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.