One-month-old Zachariah Cooke was found unresponsive in his crib on July 27, 2025, in a south Fort Worth home and was pronounced dead at Cook Children's Hospital. The cause of death was methamphetamine toxicity, ruled a homicide. Zachariah was born drug-positive on June 3, 2025, and CPS implemented a safety plan requiring the mother, Swanietra Cooke, to be supervised by a family friend when with the child. However, the mother was not living at the designated address and was instead in a dilapidated home with drug paraphernalia near the baby's crib. The designated supervisor admitted the mother and child were unsupervised the night before the death. The mother admitted to using methamphetamine and was charged with manslaughter in January 2026. CPS Family-Based Safety Services had not yet been formally opened before the child died.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The news article states the child "was pronounced dead from what turned out to be methamphetamine toxicity." The fatality report confirms: "the manner of death was ruled a homicide with the cause of death being methamphetamine toxicity." The fatality report also notes that "Law enforcement believed the deceased child's death was from a fentanyl overdose" as an initial assessment. This is clearly a case of child drug exposure/overdose.
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report states: "The Department confirmed the deceased child's mother committed neglectful supervision of the deceased child. The Department confirmed the family friend committed neglectful supervision of the deceased child." The fatality report also notes: "the family friend who was to supervise the mother and deceased child's contact indicated that the mother and deceased child were unsupervised the night before the death as the deceased child slept in the mother's room." The news article confirms: "That unnamed friend/supervisor admitted to CPS investigators that Swanietra and Zachariah were unsupervised in Swanietra's bedroom the night before Zachariah died." The child was left unsupervised with a drug-using mother, resulting in fatal drug exposure.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
The news article states: "According to CPS records obtained by the Star-Telegram, Zachariah had amphetamines and either methamphetamines or heroin in his system when he was born on June 3, 2025. Swanietra tested positive for the same drugs, as well as cocaine, while she was in the hospital giving birth." The fatality report corroborates: "the deceased child was born on 06/03/3025 and his urinalysis was positive for amphetamines, and his meconium was pending." This documents prenatal substance exposure.
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
The fatality report describes the scene: "They saw a two-foot-long blood trail in the deceased child's crib and there were multiple crack pipes and marijuana in a drawer nearby." The news article also states: "a Fort Worth police detective found drug paraphernalia near the baby's crib in a bedroom Zachariah shared with his mother, Swanietra Cooke, 36, and one of her friends." The presence of drug paraphernalia near the crib, blood in the crib, and the overall environment (dilapidated home, no AC in Texas summer) constitute an unsafe sleeping environment.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article states: "On Jan. 12, following an investigation, Swanietra was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection to her son's death." She admitted to smoking methamphetamine. The fatality report confirms: "The Department confirmed the deceased child's mother committed physical abuse of the deceased child, which led to his death." The biological mother, Swanietra Cooke, was directly responsible for the child's death through drug exposure.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report lists intake dates of "06/04/2025, 06/12/2025, 07/27/2025, 07/27/2025 - four reports merged into single." The first two reports (June 4 and June 12) predate the child's death on July 27 and pertained to drug exposure at birth. The news article confirms CPS was aware of the mother's drug use and had implemented a safety plan prior to the death. These constitute prior child protection reports before the child's death.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The news article states: "On Jan. 12, following an investigation, Swanietra was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection to her son's death." The fatality report also notes: "They did indicate that manslaughter or injury to a child causing death charges were being considered."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The fatality report states the mother "had a warrant out for her arrest due to a parole violation and no place to live." She subsequently "moved in with a different family" in a home described as "dilapidated and dirty with a very smelly odor and flies everywhere." The news article confirms she "was not living with the friend who was her designated supervisor, and she wasn't living in the residence stipulated in the CPS safety plan." Having no permanent housing and staying informally with another family indicates a state of effective homelessness at the time of the child's death.
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The news article states: "CPS records say she had an active arrest warrant for a parole violation when Zachariah was born." The fatality report corroborates: "The mother had a warrant out for her arrest due to a parole violation." Being on parole indicates a prior conviction, and the parole violation warrant predates the child's death. Additionally, the news article notes she was in jail on "burglary and theft charges on which she was arrested in November" — these are also unrelated to the child's death.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Extensive documentation of the mother's substance use exists in both documents. The news article states: "Swanietra later admitted to smoking methamphetamine when questioned by police." She "tested positive for benzodiazepines and methamphetamines" after the death and "tested positive for drugs again in early August." At the child's birth, she tested positive for amphetamines, methamphetamine or heroin, and cocaine. The fatality report corroborates: "the mother tested positive for amphetamines and cocaine after the deceased child's birth" and later "tested positive for methamphetamines on a urine drug screen."
Notable Details
Several substantive systemic and contextual details are notable. The fatality report states the CPS safety assessment on 06/10/2025 rated the child as "Safe with plan," yet the fatality report also reveals: "the mother agreed to complete services as part of Family-Based Safety Services however the fatality occurred prior to the case being opened for services." This means the child died before any substantive intervention actually began. The news article reports the grandmother "had lobbied to have Zachariah live with her or with her son and daughter-in-law, but Swanietra refused," and that CPS did not forcibly remove the child despite known drug exposure at birth. The fatality report also describes a "two-foot-long blood trail in the deceased child's crib" — an alarming detail never explained in either document. Additionally, the mother had an active parole violation warrant at the time of the child's birth, yet was not taken into custody, which would have necessitated alternate care for the child.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.