What Happened To Samantha Cookes? Is the 'Bad Nanny' Missing Or In Jail? What We Know

The name Samantha Cookes has resurfaced in online searches, with many users asking: is Samantha Cookes missing?

The short answer is no. Cookes, the woman at the centre of a decade-long fraud spree, is currently serving time in an Irish prison. A new documentary titled Bad Nanny sheds light on her disturbing pattern of deceit and manipulation.

Who Is Samantha Cookes?

Samantha Cookes, born in Gloucestershire in 1988, is a convicted fraudster with a long history of deception. Over the past decade, she assumed multiple false identities, including Carrie Jade Williams, Sadie Harris, and Lucy FitzWilliams. Her scams often involved gaining the trust of families by posing as a live-in nanny, therapist, or writer.

She gained public attention in 2022 after going viral on TikTok as 'Carrie Jade Williams,' claiming to suffer from terminal Huntington's disease. Her videos attracted sympathy from thousands, but a subsequent investigation by VICE exposed the story as a hoax.

Why Are People Searching 'Samantha Cookes Missing'?

The phrase 'Samantha Cookes missing' has gained traction online in recent months, prompting confusion. This is likely due to her abrupt disappearance from public platforms following her TikTok exposure in late 2022. Combined with her use of multiple aliases, it created the impression that she had vanished entirely.

In reality, Cookes was arrested in Tralee, Ireland in 2024 and later charged with multiple counts of fraud. Her real story had slipped under the radar until it was revived by media outlets and true crime podcasts.

Is the 'Bad Nanny' in Jail?

Yes. Samantha Cookes is currently serving a three-year prison sentence handed down in March 2025. She was found guilty of defrauding the Irish state of more than €60,000 by falsely claiming disability benefits between 2020 and 2024, as reported by The Journal.

The court heard that Cookes posed as a terminally ill woman to receive regular payments. Judge Ronan Munro described it as a 'carefully orchestrated and deliberate' fraud built on exploiting public goodwill. He also noted her extensive criminal history, including five prior fraud convictions in the UK.

What the Bad Nanny Documentary Reveals

The two-part documentary Bad Nanny, which aired on RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland in May 2025, explores the full scope of Cookes' actions. It includes firsthand accounts from victims in Kerry and Offaly who had welcomed Cookes into their homes as a nanny or caregiver.

The film details how Cookes embedded herself into the lives of unsuspecting families, often leaving financial and emotional devastation behind. Victims described feelings of betrayal and fear after learning the truth about the woman they had trusted.

From Sympathy to Scandal

The Samantha Cookes story is a cautionary tale of how quickly misinformation can spread online. Although she is not missing, the lingering question 'is Samantha Cookes missing?' reflects the public's confusion around her disappearance from social media and her use of fake identities.

Thanks to the Bad Nanny documentary and renewed media interest, the truth is now clearer. Cookes is no longer a mystery figure; she is a convicted fraudster behind bars, and her story serves as a stark reminder of how easily trust can be manipulated in the digital age.