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'Missing' mom Lauren Cook reveals she's safe as she asks for funds amid ongoing concern for children

Lauren Cook, previously reported as missing, launched a GoFundMe campaign, asserting her and her children were never missing

FRANKLIN COUNTY, VIRGINIA: Lauren Cook, a 30-year-old Virginia mother who said she was "safe" after being reported missing with her three children earlier this month, has launched a GoFundMe page to raise funds for herself and her children.

Retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer took to X, formerly Twitter, to share the latest update on Cook. "Well relief combined with disgust," she wrote. 

"Thankfully #LaurenCook and her children are fine. Instead of something sinister happening, she has been running from the child welfare courts," Coffindaffer continued. 

"She has set up a GFM," the former FBI agent wrote. "Head shaking that NCMEC and law enforcement were led to believe she was missing for days," she continued.

"So much energy spent trying to help someone who was avoiding authority. Anyway, the main point is, she is OK and her children are OK!" Coffindaffer concluded. 

Despite Cook saying she was "safe," several social media users shared their doubts over the situation and expressed concern over the well-being of the three children. 

Lauren Cook confirms 'my kids and I are not missing' on GoFundMe page

Cook and her children, Benjamin, seven, Hannah, five, and Elijah, two, were reported missing after being last seen on September 5 in Franklin County, Virginia.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into the case and asked for public help before Cook appeared in an interview with The Messenger and said, "My kids and I are not missing. We are safe."

Cook reiterated the statement after launching her GoFundMe page with the aim of raising $25000 and said, "My kids and I are not missing and never were." 

"Hi, my name is Lauren Cook. I hope to be able to tell my full story someday," she mentioned.

"For now, all I have is the cliffnotes version because it is much too long to type into this textbox," the 30-year-old added. 

"I was in contact with multiple people, including the person who made the report, who verified this and informed the appropriate authorities but were told 'their hands were tied' with ending this missing persons case," Cook explained. 

The Messenger previously reported that Cook revealed she went on a "pre-planned, out-of-state vacation" with her children.

However, authorities launched a nationwide search after allegations of child abuse and neglect, drug use, and mental illness happening at the home Cook shares with her husband, Jordan, emerged.

In her fundraiser page, Cook clarified her need for retaining a lawyer and added more details about the Department of Social Service case, saying, "There were and never have been criminal charges put forth. This was always only a civil case."

She further explained that the case was officially dismissed without prejudice on September 27th and that the "nightmare all began on August 28th."

"I have been given legal counsel that this could mean the case is not able to be reopened, or it might be, there’s no way for me to know. This means that for me to be able to return home I need to have a lawyer to help me fight these same allegations," Cook explained.

"I have been quoted that this starts at $5,000 and can easily rack up quickly to double or triple that number. It depends on how many hours have to be spent on the case and no one is able to give me a for sure number," she continued.

"In addition to the legal defense I still need, I mentioned going on the offense," Cook continued. "To get more specific, our reputations have been slandered, our rights trampled on, our business has taken a hit, and I need an additional lawyer because I am planning to sue," she added.

"That is a much more potentially expensive battle that I have been quoted at starting at around $10,000, and could easily be double that much. It is likely that the $25,000 wouldn’t even be enough to cover all the legal fees but it would be a really good start," the mother-of-three shared.

"As I have stated before, everything I have done has been under the counsel of legal advice from multiple sources," she assured, adding, "I have spoken with more than 6 attorneys and been advised all along the way in all my actions."

"After becoming intimately acquainted with all the details, all these lawyers came to the same conclusions and are what I have been basing all of my decisions on," Cook said. 

"If you do not have all the details, as almost no one does, please don't make assumptions about the situation," she added. 

Lauren Cook's husband previously came under scrutiny 

Before Cook revealed she was "safe" and in a pre-planned vacation with her children, her husband, Jordan, came under scrutiny after he said he was "not concerned" about their disappearance.

"Contrary to what has been reported, my wife and children are not 'missing,'" Jordan told WSET-TV. "I have no reason to be concerned about their safety or well-being," he added.

"I have heard from my wife, and I’m sure she and my children are doing well. We ask that our family’s privacy be respected at this time," Jordan mentioned. 

"Usually you see where a non-custodial parent will run off with the kids, which is not this situation," Sergeant Megan Huston said at the time.

"There is concern as to where she is at and where the kids are at after it has been over a week now since anybody has had communication with her," the officer mentioned. 

"He's upset, as any parent would be, of 'where are my children at.' We don't have any signs that she is in danger, but we're just trying to locate them and make sure they're safe," Huston added. 

Internet reacts to Lauren Cook's revelation of being 'safe' with kids

While Cook revealed she was "safe" and not missing, the internet continued to express their concern over the well-being of her children.

Some social media users also admitted that Cook's husband was "right" for not being concerned over the disappearance while others questioned the lack of Cook's physical sighting. 

"Wow. Never saw this coming honestly. Husband was actually being honest when he said they werent missing," one user mentioned. 

"Some had already convicted the husband. He was telling the truth. Hope the kids are okay," added another.

"I’m not sure her children are in fact okay…." one said. "What outcome for the children..who knows," another questioned. 

"My concern is for the children at this point. There’s a reason CPS was called and if she has nothing to hide she wouldn’t be running. Who knows, the mother may be the one who called CPS, and then authorities when she went missing. There is certainly more to the story," a fourth user wrote. 

"But has anyone physically seen her?" a fifth asked. 

One said, "This was my suspicion, especially when I read she didn't show up for court. She's definitely made things much worse for herself."

Another mocked, "Good to know! Im sure running from child welfare courts will really help her case.."

What happened to Lauren Cook's children?

Cook and her husband denied the allegations mentioned in a complaint filed to the Franklin County Department of Social Services, The Messenger reported.

The couple told the outlet that Cook's fear of being separated from her children during an investigation of the abuse allegations led to her being away from Franklin County.

"My wife and I have been slandered and defamed ... through an anonymous complaint without a shred of evidence," Jordan said.

"This complaint was deemed sufficient cause to try and force our children out of our custody, and afterwards we would have to fight the allegations while our three kids sit in foster care," he added.

"We have no criminal charges against us, are upstanding citizens and members of our community, and we are loving parents," Jordan mentioned. 

Cook said she does not know who filed the complaint against their family but believes it was a relative or a "disgruntled business partner" who had ill will towards them.

As part of an update in her GoFundMe post, Cook shared recent images of her children, writing, "Very recent pictures of the kids."

"I did another video interview today, where I allowed Amy Cockerham, a local reporter, and her cameraman to see the kids and say hello to all of them. I also took the newest picture that I am using for the gofundme and sent it to her to use for her news article," she added. 

Speaking to ABC13, Cook said, "I just don't have any solid answers yet as to what's happening with this case." 

"The whole thing has me feeling a little paranoid about the situation with law enforcement. Why do they need me to specifically come in person with kids... when even the person that made the report is telling them that none of us are missing," she added. 

"Of course, I wish I could come back. It's hard to not really able to come back, come back to your own home," Cook shared. 

Meanwhile, Jordan said that while staying away from his loved ones is hard, he is ready to support his wife's decision. 

"There's nothing worse than hearing, 'I can't come home,' I don't know how long this is gonna be," he mentioned. 

Cook also confirmed that her kids are in a stable location but did not reveal the details of the place.