Georgia’s child protection service was warned repeatedly about alleged abuse involving four-year-old Colby Cooks in the months before he was found dead in a south-west Atlanta townhome, a family friend has said.
Destyne Akoon said complaints were made to the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) throughout September, October, November and December 2025. She said Colby’s father also made an emergency referral after seeing the worsening condition of the boy’s five-year-old brother, Kayden, shortly before Colby’s death.
It remains unclear what action, if any, caseworkers took in response to the reports. Georgia officials have not released records showing how the referrals were handled or confirmed the total number of complaints made about the children.
Child abuse reports before Colby Cooks’ death
Colby and Kayden had been staying with Jasmaine Smoak while their mother, Amanda Malone Walker, was in custody on shoplifting charges, according to court records and family friends.
Akoon said she had shared a home with the family during the summer of 2025, but alleged the violence began after Smoak moved the boys to a townhome on Cardinal Drive South-west. Smoak was described by police as a friend of the children’s mother and not a relative. ([ajc.com](https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/10/murder-charge-atlanta-childs-death/?utm_source=openai))
Atlanta police were called to the property for a welfare check after Smoak’s father contacted emergency services. Court documents say he told dispatchers that his daughter had reported a child was unresponsive after taking medication.
Officers forced their way into the home and found Colby dead beneath clothing in an upstairs bedroom cupboard. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that he had suffered extensive blunt-force injuries, including broken bones, a burn and lacerations to his liver and spleen.
Investigators estimated that Colby had been dead for between 12 and 24 hours. Police said Smoak left the property before officers arrived with four other children and was later detained in Wilkes County after authorities tracked the vehicle to Washington, Georgia. ([aol.com](https://www.aol.com/articles/2nd-woman-arrested-4-old-181126000.html?utm_source=openai))
Brother found with severe injuries
Kayden was taken to hospital in Augusta after being found with severe facial injuries, signs of prolonged abuse and acute starvation, according to arrest warrants. He remains in hospital while receiving treatment.
Akoon alleged that Kayden was punished when he searched for food, saying he would look through the kitchen at night because he was being starved. The claims have not been tested in court.
The warrants state that Smoak and Jasmine Jenkins left the children alone at the townhome while Colby was suffering from fatal injuries. Investigators later found a food-delivery bag at the property, court documents say.
Jenkins was arrested on Thursday, following Smoak’s detention earlier in the week. Both women are being held without bond and face charges including murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and first-degree cruelty to children. Smoak also faces a charge of concealing a death, while Jenkins is charged with being party to a crime. ([wsbtv.com](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/second-woman-arrested-4-year-olds-death/IDJVNJK2RFDOFJUT2QHOTHT6YU/?utm_source=openai))
The Georgia Department of Human Services said it was “devastated” by Colby’s death and would co-operate fully with law enforcement. No preliminary hearing date had been announced for either defendant.
