The tragic death of Robert Cosby Jr., the 23-year-old son of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby, is coming into sharper focus with the release of a 911 dispatch call made prior to his passing. The audio, obtained by the Daily Mail, reveals the dire medical emergency that unfolded on Monday, with dispatchers describing a young male who was not conscious and not breathing.
Emergency Response Details
In the 911 audio, a dispatcher can be heard stating that a 23-year-old male was unresponsive and not breathing. Notably, the dispatcher added that one dose of Narcan, the brand name for naloxone which reverses opioid overdoses, had already been administered without apparent effect. Naloxone can restore breathing in opioid overdose cases, but only if administered quickly enough to counteract the drugs.
The dispatcher further noted that three police units had been dispatched to the location. Salt Lake City police confirmed to TMZ that officers responded Monday night to a call for a full arrest or medical emergency involving a 23-year-old male. While police initially described the incident as a possible overdose, authorities have since classified it as a death investigation and have not released an official cause of death.
Mother's Fears and Family Tragedy
Just months before this family tragedy, Mary Cosby had tearfully voiced her fears that her son would die. During part two of the RHOSLC Season 6 reunion, which aired on January 20, Cosby broke down while discussing her only child amid turmoil in his life, including a jail stint and alleged struggles with substance abuse.
At the time the reunion was filmed, Robert was being held at Salt Lake County Metro Jail following a November arrest for allegedly violating a pretrial protective order against his now ex-wife, Alexiana Smokoff. Mary explained to the cast that she wasn't worried about him in jail, admitting it gave her comfort knowing he was somewhere he wasn't using drugs.
'I'd rather him be there than dead, you know?' Mary said during the emotional reunion segment. She went on to explain that she felt she had no choice but to let him face the consequences of his actions. 'At some point, I have to step back so that he can learn and he can make his own decisions, and unfortunately, he's learning the hard way. But I'm OK with it,' she said, adding, 'It's just, you don't want to see your kid suffer, but I know it's good.'
Recent Release and Family Statements
Robert Jr. had been released from jail earlier this month after serving two months behind bars. He had been ordered to serve 99 days but received credit for time served. Just three days after his release, Mary shared a photo of him on social media with the cryptic message, 'Thank you all for your prayers. Love you.'
Bravo confirmed the tragic news in a statement provided to the Daily Mail, expressing heartbreak over Robert's passing. 'Mary is a cherished member of our family, and our thoughts, love, and deepest condolences are with her and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,' the network stated.
A separate statement was shared on behalf of Mary Cosby and her husband, Robert Cosby Sr., reading: 'Our beloved son Robert Jr. has been called home to the Lord. Though our hearts ache, we take comfort in God's promise and in knowing he is finally at peace. We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord to carry us through this time of sorrow.'
Reactions and Background
Following the news, Andy Cohen took to Threads to react, writing, 'Devastatingly sad news out of SLC. This is every parent's worst nightmare. My heart is broken for Mary, and I am sending all my love to her and Robert Sr.'
Robert's attorney Clayton Simms told People that Robert 'expresses deep regret regarding his prior actions and acknowledges that his past behavior demonstrates poor judgment.' Members of the Real Housewives franchise expressed support in comments on Mary's social media post, with Sutton Stracke writing, 'Lots of prayers for you and Robert, Mary,' and Dolores Catania commenting, 'God bless Robert.'
Robert had a history of legal issues, including an arrest in Utah in September on multiple alleged charges including trespassing and assault. He was previously arrested in 2022 for driving under the influence, at which time police said he did not have a valid license and failed to follow traffic laws. He later pleaded guilty to the DUI charge.
Viewers of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City saw Robert appear on the Bravo series several times over the years. During season four, Mary Cosby addressed learning that her son had secretly married Alexiana Smokoff without her knowledge in August 2022 at a Utah courthouse. Robert and Alexiana's alleged struggles with substance use were also featured as part of Mary's storyline on the show. In November, Alexiana Smokoff filed for divorce.
