Jasmaine Smoak Charged After 4-Year-Old Found Dead in Atlanta

Neighbors in a southwest Atlanta gated community placed flowers, balloons, and teddy bears outside a home on Cardinal Drive after police found 4-year-old Colby Cooks dead inside the residence Monday night, wsbtv.com reported.

The grim discovery set off a multi-county search that ended in east Georgia, where authorities arrested 32-year-old Jasmaine Smoak. According to Atlanta police cited by wsbtv.com, officers tracked Smoak using license plate reader technology to Washington, Georgia, in Wilkes County.

The Arrest and Charges in Wilkes County

When authorities located Smoak, she had three other children from the Cardinal Drive home with her. One of those children sustained injuries and required hospital treatment, according to wsbtv.com. Police stated that the child receiving hospital care is currently recovering.

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Smoak, described by investigators as a friend of the victim’s mother but not related to the child, was taken into custody by the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office. AJC.com reported that Smoak faces charges of second-degree cruelty to children and concealing the death of another.

As of Wednesday, Smoak remained booked into the Wilkes County jail, according to records cited by AJC.com. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office formally identified the deceased boy as Colby Cooks.

Jasmaine Smoak Charged After 4-Year-Old Found Dead in Atlanta — Photo: ajc.com

Community Grief on Cardinal Drive

Back in Atlanta, residents struggled to process the sudden tragedy. A Channel 2 Action News photographer captured community members gathering outside the house to leave tributes.

“We just wanted to put some stuff out.”

one mother told Channel 2’s Tom Jones, recalling how her daughter had previously struck up conversations with Colby and invited him over to play.

Another neighbor, Amber Burks, shared the community’s profound sense of shock with wsbtv.com.

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“For this to have happened like it’s unthinkable regardless of the outcome of the details.”

Burks said.

Raven Jalise, another local resident, offered a quiet reflection on the unfolding tragedy to wsbtv.com.

“I’m not sure what’s going on within the household and the family members, but I pray for them peaceful grief.”

Jalise said.

Atlanta police have not yet released details regarding what transpired inside the Cardinal Drive home prior to the discovery, and the investigation remains active.