Jasmaine Smoak, 32, was charged with murder, aggravated assault and cruelty to children after 4-year-old Colby Cooks was found dead in an Atlanta apartment on Monday evening during a welfare check. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office determined Colby died of blunt force trauma, with his manner of death listed as homicide.
Smoak was watching the children for their mother, who is incarcerated. Police tracked Smoak's vehicle to Wilkes County using license plate readers after she fled the apartment before officers arrived. When located, Smoak was with three other children, including Colby's 5-year-old brother Cayden Cooks, who suffered visible injuries and was hospitalized with severe head trauma.
A second woman, 30-year-old Jasmine Jenkins, was also arrested in connection with Colby's death. Jenkins was charged with murder and cruelty to children, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
Destyne Akoon, a friend of the boys' mother, told Fox affiliate WAGA that Cayden's father was at his son's bedside during recovery. Akoon said that since the boys were in Smoak's care, they had "marks" on them.
Smoak was initially charged with cruelty to children and concealing a death at the time of her arrest. She was booked into Wilkes County Jail and is expected to be transferred to Fulton County. Authorities did not release her next court date.