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Lauren Cook and her three kids were last seen on Sept. 5 — but her husband previously said he had “no reason to be concerned about their safety”
The mother of Lauren Cook — a Virginia mom who is missing alongside her three young children, according to authorities — said she is concerned about her daughter and her grandchildren, despite earlier comments made by her daughter’s husband.
“We are deeply concerned for our daughter Lauren, and our grandchildren Benjamin, Hannah, Elijah and our unborn grandchild,” Lisa Tousa, Lauren Cook’s mother, said in comments to Today that were published Saturday.
Tousa added: “We want them all to know we love them and are here for them and want to help bring them to safety.”
Authorities said a missing persons investigation was initiated after Lauren did not appear for her rescheduled court appearance on Sept. 13. It is not immediately clear why Lauren was due in court and police have said that “juvenile records are confidential.”
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said that they had reached out to Lauren’s family, who said they had lost contact with Lauren several days prior, per the news release. “There has been no reported contact with Lauren since September 5th or 6th, when she stated that she was in New York visiting family,” authorities said.
Investigators later confirmed that Lauren and the kids had been in Litchfield, Illinois, the sheriff’s office said.
