Virginia authorities have declared Lauren Elizabeth Tousa Cook and her three children missing, but her husband disagrees, stating that he has “no reason” to be concerned about their safety. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that Lauren Cook, 30, and her children – Benjamin Cook, 7, Hannah Cook, 5, and Elijah Cook, 2 – were last seen on September 5 in Franklin County.

The investigation into their disappearance began after Lauren failed to appear in court on September 13. The court appearance had been rescheduled from a previous date on September 5, which she also missed. While the reason for her court appearance remains confidential, her absence prompted concerns.

The sheriff’s office reached out to Lauren’s family members, who revealed that they had lost contact with her and the children a few days before. According to the police, there have been no reported interactions with Lauren since September 5th or 6th, when she mentioned she was visiting family in New York.

On September 14, investigators confirmed that Lauren and the children were in Litchfield, Illinois, as they have connections in other states. However, their current whereabouts remain unknown.

Jordan Cook, Lauren’s husband and the father of their children, disputes the reports, insisting that his wife and children are not missing. He assures the public that there is no reason for concern regarding their safety and well-being, as he has been in contact with his wife and believes they are doing well. He requests privacy for their family during this time.

Sgt. Megan Huston of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office mentioned that Lauren missed another court appearance, with her husband present on Wednesday. Lauren’s mother and husband received phone calls from her on the morning of the hearing, confirming that she and the children were okay. However, she did not disclose their location. Efforts to locate them through phone pings have been unsuccessful since September 7.

At this time, the mother and her three children will remain officially “missing.” According to Sgt. Huston, they will continue to be listed as such until a law enforcement agency can confirm their safety and well-being in-person. The public is urged to contact local law enforcement with any information about their whereabouts.