A friend of a Georgia 4-year-old boy’s mother has been arrested after his battered and lifeless body was found buried under a pile of clothes, authorities said.
Little Cobee Cooks died last week from multiple blunt force injuries and lacerations to his liver and spleen, according to an arrest warrant obtained by 11 Alive.
The arrest warrant details that the young boy also suffered other serious injuries that were in varying states of healing and appeared to show a pattern of frequent physical abuse.
When police conducted a welfare check at the Atlanta home, Bryant’s tiny body was discovered beneath a mountain of clothes in an upstairs closet.
In total, he suffered more than 20 injuries, including cuts, burns and broken bones, according to police.
“He’s only 4 years old; he’s the sweetest little boy ever, always smiling, and he loves his mom; they both do,” Kobe’s aunt told 11 Alive.
Two women have since been arrested and charged with murder.
Jasmaine Smoak, a 32-year-old friend of Kobe’s mother, was captured near Augusta, about 140 miles away, three days after she allegedly fled Atlanta with Kobe’s 5-year-old brother, Kayden, and two other children.
The boys’ mother is being held in Clark County and Smoak was described as their caregiver.
Jasmine Jenkins, 30, who was living in the home with Smoak when Bryant was killed, was also arrested.
Smoak was charged with murder, aggravated assault and child abuse.
Jenkins was charged with murder and child abuse.
Police call Smoker ‘malicious’ [caused] Children under 18 years of age were subjected to cruel or excessive physical or mental pain by beating, burning and beating. “
The investigation began after Smoak’s father called 911 on Oct. 26 to report that she told him a child was unresponsive after receiving medication, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
Police found Cobee upstairs and determined he was dead within 12 to 24 hours.
The day before the slain boy was found, Smoak fled the home in a white Mercedes-Benz with Bryant, his brother and two other children.
Bryant’s great-aunt started a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money to pay for funeral and medical expenses.
She claimed that Bryant’s father and other family members feared for his safety and “tried to intervene,” including calling authorities.
Bryant was remembered as “affectionate, playful and full of energy.”
“He loved to eat, loved to play and had a special way of making the funniest little faces that made everyone smile,” part of the tribute reads.
“He was our little sunshine, always full of energy and personality.”