FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Questions remain after a Franklin County woman and her three children disappeared around September 5.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said Lauren Cook and her kids, 2-year-old Elijah, 5-year-old Hannah, and 7-year-old Benjamin Cook are still missing.
As we previously reported, the family was reported missing on Sept. 13.
In a post on Tuesday night, the sheriff’s office said the woman did not appear for a scheduled court appearance, which was originally rescheduled from Sept. 5.
According to the sheriff’s office, family members had lost contact with Cook and the kids several days prior.
Deputies told 10 News Tuesday afternoon that Cook’s husband said his family is safe but that he hadn’t communicated with them.
We’re told there has been no reported contact with Cook since Sept. 5 or Sept. 6, when she stated that she was in New York visiting family.
Now, investigators have shared that Cook and her children were confirmed to be in Litchfield, Illinois on Sept. 14. Authorities said they have connections in various other states and aren’t believed to be in Franklin County.
Law enforcement said at this point, there is no person of interest in this case.
Deputies said they have to lay eyes on them and make sure they are all okay before the missing persons alert can be cleared.
Anyone with any updates on where Cook and her children may be is asked to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 540-483-3000 or call local law enforcement.
10 News has reached out to Cook’s family members for comment but we’ve not heard back.
We’ve been checking for court records in this case. Court clerks said on Tuesday that no search warrants have been received yet.