The son of 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake' star, Mary Cosby, has passed away. He had shared his final Instagram post earlier this month.
Robert Cosby Jr's sudden death at the age of 23 on February 23, 2026, has left his friends and family with unanswered questions. He was the son of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star, Mary Cosby, who had just been released from jail. His mother, Mary, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement to TMZ and shared that her son would finally be at peace now. As tributes continue to pour in for the 23-year-old's death, fans have also turned their attention to his last Instagram post shared days before his death.
A few weeks before his death, Robert Cosby Jr had returned to Instagram with what eventually became his final Instagram post. He posted on Instagram on February 6, 2026, sharing a series of photos of himself posing with a dog. Robert Jr seemed to stand outside what appeared to be the family's home in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was dressed casually and smiled softly. Sharing the post with a short yet meaningful caption, he penned:
"I'm back :)."
Robert Cosby Jr's message might have been brief, but it carried significant weight. For those unaware, Page Six reported that Robert Cosby Jr had been released from the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on February 3, 2026. It was just three days before he shared the photos with the world. Prior to that, he had spent nearly two months in prison owing to his November 2025 arrest. Therefore, the caption has a bittersweet meaning for fans, as it highlights the difficult phase of his life while Robert Jr. tries to return to normalcy.
See the post here.
Robert Cosby Jr was in prison due to his increasing legal issues with his estranged wife, Alexiana Smokoff, and her family. According to Page Six, he was taken into custody on November 9, 2025, for violating a pretrial protective order that required him to stay away from his ex-wife's and her family. Prosecutors alleged that he tried to trespass on his father-in-law's home multiple times, including an attempt through a dog door between September and November 2025. During one of those incidents, he physically attacked his father-in-law and a law enforcement officer during his arrest. He was also charged with felony property damage.
Eventually, Robert Cosby Jr pleaded guilty to eight charges in November 2025, including assault and violation of a protective order. In turn, some of his misdemeanors were dismissed. Subsequently, he was in custody until his sentencing on February 3, 2026, when he was given 36 months of probation and 75 hours of community service. Notably, during The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 6, Mary Cosby shared that she believed her son was safer in prison since it helped him stay away from illicit substances.
Robert Cosby Jr's death is under investigation. According to People, Salt Lake City police took action after they received a call reporting a possible overdose at his home on February 23, 2026. Later, the first responders found him unconscious and not breathing. They immediately administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. Although the official cause of his death is not yet finalised, authorities have indicated it was a "possible overdose." Previously, Robert Jr. had spoken publicly on the show about struggling with substance abuse from a young age and admitting to using multiple kinds of illicit substances. Moreover, he had finalised his divorce from his ex-wife, Alexiana Smokoff, in January 2026.
Rest in peace, Robert Cosby Jr.
Next Read: Meet Robert Cosby Jr's Ex-Wife, Alexiana, All About His Family Amid His Death From Alleged Overdose