Mary Cosby's deepest fears have materialized into a heartbreaking reality. The star of "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" lost her only son, Robert Cosby Jr., on February 23rd, following a relentless battle with drug addiction, as confirmed by the police to E! News. He was just 23 years old. A spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Police Department shared on February 25th that Robert Jr. was found deceased after officers "responded to a possible overdose." The medical examiner is still investigating the cause of death.
Robert Jr.'s struggle with addiction was documented throughout multiple seasons of the Bravo reality series. In fact, Mary—who shared her son with husband Robert Cosby Sr.—made a chilling prediction about her son's future two years prior to his passing. During a heart-wrenching conversation in 2024, the mother-son duo discussed his struggles with substance abuse for the first time on camera. The reality of Robert Jr.'s dire state left Mary in tears.
"I won't judge you," she told him in a resurfaced clip on TikTok. "I can try to help you, but you've got to help yourself, because I'm not going to support it." After Robert admitted to mixing drugs including Xanax, Molly (MDMA), cocaine, and Adderall, the 53-year-old was left speechless and warned her son about the consequences of his addiction.
"You're blessed to wake up every day," Mary continued. "You know how many people didn't wake up today? You will die." Robert Jr.'s response was even more heartbreaking.
"I wanted to die at the time," he replied. "I just felt like a stain. I just felt like this world wasn't for me."
In a confessional, Mary blamed herself for not realizing the severity of Robert Jr.'s addiction, adding, "I just feel very disappointed with myself. I feel like I let him down somewhere."
As for how Robert Jr. was faring in the days leading up to his death, he had recently been released from the Salt Lake County Metro Jail earlier this month following a two-month stint, according to his attorney Clayton Simms. Although her son was serving time behind bars, the reality star viewed his prison stay as a kind of saving grace.
"I know he's somewhere where he's not using," she shared during RHOSLC's season six reunion, which aired last month. "At some point, I have to step back so that he can learn and make his own decisions. Unfortunately, he's learning the hard way, but I'm OK with it."
As for how Mary and husband Robert Cosby Sr. are coping in the wake of this tragedy, she told TMZ in a statement on February 25th: "Our beloved son Robert Jr. has been called home to the Lord. Though our hearts ache, we take comfort in God's promise and in knowing he is finally at peace. We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord to carry us through this time of sorrow."
