“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Mary Cosby was worried her son Robert Jr. would die months before his shocking death Monday.
The Bravolebrity expressed her concerns about her only child during Part 2 of the RHOSLC Season 6 reunion, which aired on January 20, when she gave an update on her only child.
At the time of the shooting, her son was being held in the Salt Lake County Metro Jail following a November arrest for violating a pretrial protection order against his ex-wife. Alexiana Smokov.
“I’m not worried about him,” Mary said, clearly emotional, but adding that she was relieved that he was somewhere drug-free.
“At some point, I have to step back so he can learn and make his own decisions. Unfortunately, he’s learning the hard way, but I’m okay with that,” she said.
“I just don’t want to see my child suffer, but I know it’s good,” Mary explained. “And I’d rather he be there than die, you know?”
Robert Jr. was released from prison earlier this month after serving two months in prison. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve 99 days in jail, but was given credit for time served.
As conditions of his release, the judge ordered Robert Jr. to complete 24 months of probation, complete 75 hours of community service, and take substance abuse and anger management classes.
Robert Jr.’s attorney, Clayton Sims, said in an exclusive statement to Page Six that Robert Jr., then 23, considered his time in prison a “blessing.”
“It’s helped him sober up and start thinking clearly. He’s looking forward to doing something positive. The problem was he was slow to recognize the dissolution of the marriage, but now he understands it’s over and has moved on,” Sims said.
In the months leading up to her death, the reality star, who openly struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, ran into some sticky legal troubles.
Before being released in February, he was arrested in September 2025 for allegedly trying to break into Smokov’s parents’ home through a doggy door, attacking two fathers on the front lawn and biting a responding police officer on the hand.
After his arrest on November 9, he was charged with 14 charges stemming from both incidents. On November 25, Robert Jr. pleaded guilty to eight of the charges. Six other misdemeanor charges were dismissed with prejudice.
Robert Jr. died Monday after Salt Lake City Police Department officers “responded to an overdose call, which resulted in a death investigation,” according to an SLCPD spokesperson. He was 23 years old.
First responders administered “one dose of Narcan” to Robert Jr. when he was found “unconscious and not breathing,” according to 911 audio obtained exclusively by Page Six.
Mary confirmed her son’s death on Instagram on Wednesday.
“Our beloved son, Robert Jr., has been called to be with the Lord. Our hearts are broken, but we are comforted by God’s promises and knowing that He is finally at peace. We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord as they carry us through this time of sadness,” she wrote.
Just hours after the news surfaced, Bravo chief Andy Cohen publicly expressed his condolences to Mary and her husband Robert Sr. with a touching message via an Instagram thread.
“Devastatingly sad news from SLC. This is every parent’s worst nightmare. My heart breaks for Mary. All my love to her and Robert Sr.,” he wrote.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 800-662-4357.
