A Virginia mom reported missing earlier this month along with her three children called a local television station on Thursday to explain the situation.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says the 30-year-old Lauren Cook and the children were last seen around September 5 after they did not show up at a family member’s home. She also missed a hearing at  the Franklin County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court that day and missed a rescheduled hearing on September 13, the sheriff’s office said.

Her husband, Jordan Cook, said last week that his wife and children were “not missing” and asked “that our family’s privacy be respected at this time.”

Lauren Cook called WSET on Thursday, beginning with a video call to confirm her identity. The interview took place on an app that cant’ be traced.

Cook told the station that social services got an anonymous phone call alleging child abuse and that she and her husband deny the allegations. Despite the allegations, she said, an attorney advised that she could go on a planned Labor Day vacation — and then she decided to extend the vacation after further legal advice and concern that social services was going to take her children.

The Franklin County mom said it was her own mother who initially reported her missing and that she has since been in touch with her. Her mother has asked to retract the missing person report, she said, but the sheriff’s office says it won’t take down the report until it makes in-person contact with her and the children and verifies they are not under duress.

“The whole thing has me feeling a little paranoid about the situation with law enforcement,” Cook said. “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.”

Jordan Cook told the station that he and his wife have not missed any social services appointments that they know of and that Lauren has full custody of the children. Jordan’s attorney said the social services case was dismissed this week, although the attorney said it could be reinstated once Lauren comes back with the children.

“I feel like everything’s sort of up in the air,” she told WSET.

She said the family is in a safe and stable place but refused to say where.

As for her husband, Jordan Cook says he supports his wife, but “there’s nothing worse than hearing, I can’t come home, I don’t know how long this is gonna be.”

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[Featured image: Lauren Cook/Franklin County Sheriff’s Office]