Mary Cosby Said She and Robert Jr. ‘Could Not Live Life Without’ Robert Sr. Months Before Son’s Death

Liza EsquibiasWed, February 25, 2026 at 10:51 PM UTC

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Mary Cosby, Robert Cosby, Jr., and Robert Cosby, Sr.Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo; Mary Cosby/Instagram; Bravo -

Mary Cosby spoke about the role Robert Sr. was playing in their son Robert Jr.'s life as he struggled with addiction shortly before his death

Robert Jr. died on Feb. 23 at the age of 23 after Salt Lake City police responded to "an overdose investigation," PEOPLE previously confirmed

In an October interview with PEOPLE, Mary credited Robert Sr. for being "a solid piece" in her life and their son's

Robert Cosby Jr. had the support of his parents before his sudden death.

In a September episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City — just five months before Robert Jr. died at the age of 23, Mary Cosby opened up about how her husband Robert Cosby Sr. was instrumental in navigating their son’s years-long struggle with drug addiction.

"I didn't have a support system with him. I just had Robert Sr. I just have one," Mary told her castmates at the time. "I couldn't have done it without Robert Sr. I couldn't have done it at all."

"When Robert Jr. got home [from rehab], we had a talk with him and Robert Sr. told him, 'We cannot babysit you. You have the tools, and you know what you need to do,’” she further shared in her confessional. “So, we, like, made a pact that we would take one day at a time, and we're letting him figure it out. And that's how I deal with him."

The Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed Robert Jr.’s death to PEOPLE, saying authorities responded to a possible overdose after receiving a call regarding a “full arrest/medical emergency” of a 23-year-old male.

Mary Cosby, Robert Cosby, Jr.and Robert Cosby, Sr.Credit: Instagram; Bravo

Mary and Robert Sr. (who was previously married to Mary's grandmother) welcomed Robert Jr. in 2002 after trying to start a family for four years. He is their only child and was named after his father.

“When I had my son, I went into a whole other level of love,” Mary said in the debut season of RHOSLC. “Robert Sr., he’s in love with his son. He’ll do anything for him. And I’m like the helicopter mom.”

In October, Mary further spoke about Robert Sr.’s impact on her and Robert Jr. in an interview with PEOPLE.

"He always knows what to say, and he always knows how to say it," Mary explained. "Truly, I told him the day before I came here, like, 'You really know me, and I love that.' You can be married to someone and have no clue who they are even after 30 years especially when the kids get older and you stop being a mom and you have to be a wife again. You almost have to relearn your husband. But I actually know him."

"I see us just getting old together, and I'll be always standing there," she continued. "He's just this solid piece in my life and my son's life, and we couldn't do it without him. We could not live life without him."

On Feb. 25, Mary and Robert Sr. told PEOPLE in a statement that their "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," they shared. "We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord to carry us through this time of sorrow."

Robert Jr. first revealed that he was battling substance abuse and suicidal ideation in a vulnerable conversation with Mary in season 5. In the scene, which aired in November 2024, he shared that he had been using both prescription medications and recreational drugs since he was 16 after trying the anxiety medication Xanax at a party.

He also said that he had been abusing other prescription drugs, including the ADHD medication Adderall and the opioid painkiller OxyContin, taking as many as 10 at once. "I couldn't even feel it,” he recalled. “I couldn't feel it at all.”

He then told Mary that he had tried heroin, admitting that he had “wanted to die at the time.”

“I felt like a stain — I just felt like this world wasn't for me,” Robert Jr. revealed. “You’re the only reason I didn't kill myself,” he added, referencing his mother.

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In December 2024, Mary shared that Robert Jr. completed a month-long stay in rehab.

Mary Cosby and her son Robert Jr. in September 2023.Credit: Mary Cosby/Instagram

Robert Jr. also had a history of legal troubles. In 2022, he was arrested for a DUI after police claimed he was operating a vehicle without a license and disobeyed traffic laws, and he later took a deal pleading guilty to the DUI in exchange for the other charges being dropped.

Then, in September 2025, he was arrested again on multiple charges, including criminal trespassing, assault, failure to stop at the command of law enforcement and three counts of violating a court order, per his booking record viewed by PEOPLE. The arrest stemmed from an incident that took place at his father-in-law’s home outside of Salt Lake City, where his wife Alexiana — who filed for divorce following three years of marriage shortly after — was staying at the time.

According to court documents, Robert Jr. allegedly attempted to climb through a dog door to break into his father-in-law’s house. He was also accused of vandalizing the home, attacking his father-in-law on his front lawn and biting a law enforcement officer on the hand after he failed to comply with orders and had to be tasered to be brought under control.

Mary later explained to PEOPLE that the arrest occurred after she and Robert Sr. moved Alexiana out of their house. Robert Jr. and Alexiana snuck out to be together, according to Mary’s account, and, as a result, her parents had him arrested for trespassing. Though it “devastated” her at the time, Mary later shared that she felt Robert Jr.’s arrest was “a blessing in disguise."

"It was for his good," Mary said in November 2025. "I think he needed that. He's never encountered anything like that. ... I feel like he needed that and that he understands that that's the wrong journey."

Robert Jr. also opened up about the arrest to PEOPLE, sharing that he was “not where I want to be, but I'm certainly not where I used to be." He added, "I will get there!"

Robert Jr. was arrested again in November 2025 and was accused of violating a pretrial protective order. He pleaded guilty to eight of the 14 total charges he was facing one count of felony property damage or destruction greater than or equal to $5,000, two counts of violation of a pretrial protective order (which was obtained by his wife, Alexiana), one count of assault on a peace officer, one count of violation of a jail release court order, two counts of criminal trespass on a dwelling with intent to cause annoyance, injury, or fear (all Class A misdemeanors); and one count of Class B misdemeanor assault. The remaining six misdemeanor charges were dismissed with prejudice.

Robert Cosby Jr.Credit: Bravo

At the RHOSLC season 6 reunion in January, Mary offered an update on how she and Robert Sr. were communicating with Robert Jr. while he was in jail, telling host Andy Cohen that she hadn’t visited the facility.

“I can't go to the jail, Andy, that’s a little weird,” she said. “No. I don't want to look at my child behind the glass. He calls me every day, and I'm basically preaching to him. I'm like, ‘You’re going through this, but you have to realize that God is allowing it, and if God allowed it, then it's for your good. This will help you to change, and you’ve got to change.’”

“Robert talked to him the other day, and he wants books, so Robert Sr. is sending him a lot of books,” she added.

She also said that she was “not worried” about Robert Jr. — who was released from custody on Feb. 3 and sentenced to 36 months of probation and 75 hours of community service — while he was behind bars.

"I know he's somewhere where he's not using,” she explained, adding that she has "to step back" so that Robert Jr. "can learn."

"Unfortunately he's learning the hard way, but I'm okay with it," she said. "It’s just, you don’t wanna see your kid suffer, but I know it’s good, and I’d rather him be there than dead.”

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If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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