“Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Mary Cosby worried that her son, Robert Jr., would die just months before his shocking death on Monday.
The Bravolebrity voiced her concern for her only child as she gave an update on him during part two of the “RHOSLC” Season 6 reunion, which aired Jan. 20.
At the time of filming, her son was being held in Salt Lake County Metro Jail due to a November arrest, in which he violated a pretrial protective order against his now ex-wife. Alexiana Smokoff.
“I’m not worried about him,” Mary, though visibly emotional, said, adding that it gave her comfort that he was somewhere he wasn’t using drugs.
“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.
“It’s just, you don’t want to see your kid suffer, but I know it’s good,” Mary explained. “And I’d rather him be there than dead, you know?”
Robert Jr. was released from jail earlier this month after serving two months behind bars. As part of his sentencing, he was ordered to serve 99 days in jail, but got credit for time served.
As a condition of his release, the judge also ordered Robert Jr. to complete 24 months of probation, finish 75 hours of community service and take substance abuse and anger management classes.
In an exclusive statement to Page Six, Robert Jr.’s attorney, Clayton Simms, said at the time that the 23-year-old looked at his time in jail as “a blessing.”
“It allowed him to sober up and start thinking clearly. He’s looking forward to doing positive things. The difficulty is that he was slow to recognize the dissolution of his marriage. But now he understands the relationship is over, and he’s moving forward,” Simms said.
In the months leading up to his passing, the reality star — who publicly struggled with drug and alcohol addiction — had several troubling run-ins with the law.
Prior to his February release, he was arrested in September 2025 after he allegedly tried to break into Smokoff’s family’s home through a dog door and attacked both her father on the front lawn and bit a responding officer’s hand.
After his Nov. 9 arrest, he was hit with 14 charges stemming from both incidents. On Nov. 25, Robert Jr. pleaded guilty to eight of the charges. The other six misdemeanor charges were dismissed with prejudice.
Robert Jr. died Monday after Salt Lake City Police Department officers “responded to an overdose call that turned into a death investigation,” according to a SLCPD spokesperson. He was 23 years old.
Per the 911 call audio exclusively obtained by Page Six, first responders gave Robert Jr. “one dose of Narcan” when he was found “not conscious, not breathing.”
Mary confirmed her son’s death on Instagram Wednesday.
“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,” she wrote.
Just hours after the news surfaced, Bravo chief Andy Cohen publicly offered his condolences to Mary and her husband, Robert Sr., with a touching message via Instagram Threads.
“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.” he wrote.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 800-662-4357.
Leave a Reply