4-year-old found dead underneath pile of clothes in closet, police say

ATLANTA (ANF/Gray News) - Two women face murder charges after a 4-year-old boy was found beaten to death inside a home in Atlanta, according to authorities.

Police discovered the body of Colby Cooks hidden beneath a pile of clothes in a master bedroom closet around 7:20 p.m. Monday during a welfare check.

Officials ruled the boy’s death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma, noting severe injuries that included a lacerated liver and spleen, burns, bruises, possible broken limbs and older healed scars.

Investigators believe Cooks died 12 to 24 hours before his body was discovered.

Jasmaine Smoak, 32, and Jasmine Tyree Jenkins, 30, were both arrested hours away in Wilkes County and face charges of murder and first-degree cruelty to children.

According to arrest warrants, Smoak had been acting as the primary caretaker for Cooks and four other children living in the townhome, none of whom are related to her.

Jenkins, a friend of Smoak, also lived there. Warrants state the two women left the children unattended Sunday evening to go out.

The following day, Smoak called her father claiming an unresponsive child in the home “had gotten into some medication.”

Her father immediately called 911, reporting his daughter had left the home.

Smoak left the home in a Mercedes-Benz with the four surviving children before authorities tracked her down.

One of the surviving children, a 5-year-old, was hospitalized in Augusta for malnourishment and facial injuries doctors determined stemmed from abuse.

Smoak is being held at the Fulton County Jail, while Jenkins remains in Wilkes County awaiting extradition.