Cook was last seen on November 18, 2008 in Amsterdam, Missouri. He left his job at the Kansas City Power & Light Plant at 10:30 p.m. In addition to his work at the power plant, Cook also managed an large cattle ranch with over 1,000 head of cattle. Authorities believe that on the morning of November 19, at 7:00 a.m., he met with one of his ranch hands. The employee stated he and Cook checked on some cattle a few miles from Cooke's home, then Cook rode away on his four-wheeler. Later that day, he missed a scheduled meeting with one of his business partners. He has never been heard from again. Police stated they didn't consider the ranch hand to be a wholly reliable witness.

After Cook's disappearance, both his vehicles were found at his home near Amsterdam, Missouri. His wallet was inside the residence, which was in order with no indications of forced entry or foul play. Cook's cellular phone hasn't been used since his disappearance, which is uncharacteristic of him; he would always answer the phone no matter what he was doing. His phone, eyeglasses and money clip disappeared with him.

Cook is an avid outdoorsman. He has one daughter. He is divorced, but he was on good terms with his ex-wife, and he wasn't involved with drugs, alcohol or gambling. Cook grew up in Ballard, Missouri, the oldest of seven siblings. He was a prominent figure in his community prior to his disappearance and was known as a reliable man and a hard worker. It's uncharacteristic of him to miss work or to be out of touch with his loved ones, and he wasn't having any personal problems when he went missing. Foul play is suspected in his disappearance, which remains unsolved.