Investigators tracked Jasmaine Smoak more than 100 miles from the southwest Atlanta townhome after finding Colby Cooks dead during a welfare check.
ATLANTA — A 32-year-old woman faces child cruelty and concealment charges after Atlanta police found 4-year-old Colby Cooks dead inside a southwest Atlanta townhome during a welfare check Monday night, authorities said.
Jasmaine Smoak was arrested hours later in Washington, Georgia, after investigators used license plate reader technology to locate her vehicle, according to police and the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office. Police said Smoak had left the Atlanta residence with three other children before officers arrived. One of those children had injuries and was taken to a hospital. Authorities have not publicly explained how the child was injured.
Atlanta police and firefighters responded around 7:20 p.m. Monday to the Aviary Park townhome community in the 3500 block of Cardinal Drive Southwest. Officers were conducting a welfare check and forced their way into the residence based on information they received during the call, police said. Inside, they found the boy unresponsive. Emergency personnel attempted lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the boy as Colby Cooks. Authorities have not released his cause or manner of death. Police also have not disclosed what prompted the welfare check or how long the boy may have been dead before officers arrived.
Investigators began searching for Smoak after determining that she had left the home with three children, police said. Atlanta homicide detectives used automated license plate readers to trace her vehicle to Washington in Wilkes County, more than 100 miles east of Atlanta. Local sheriff’s deputies joined the search and took Smoak into custody.
Smoak is charged with second-degree cruelty to children and concealing the death of another, Atlanta police said. The charges are accusations, and authorities have not said that Smoak caused Colby’s death. Police said she is a friend of the boy’s mother and is not related to Colby.
The circumstances surrounding the three children who were with Smoak also remain under investigation. Police said one had visible injuries and received medical treatment. Authorities have not publicly described the injuries, said how they occurred or released detailed information about the condition of the other two children.
The case remains with Atlanta police homicide investigators as detectives work to determine what happened inside the Cardinal Drive residence. Authorities also have not publicly explained where Colby’s mother was before officers arrived or released a motive connected to the allegations against Smoak.
Smoak remained in Wilkes County custody in the latest available reporting and was awaiting extradition. Investigators had not announced additional charges, and the medical examiner had not publicly released a cause of death as of Wednesday.
Author note: Last updated October 28, 2026.