A Fort Worth mother is behind bars after investigators say her 1-month-old son, Zachariah Gianni Cooke, died last July from a methamphetamine overdose. The Tarrant County medical examiner later ruled the infant's cause of death as methamphetamine exposure, according to authorities. Police arrested the child's mother on a second-degree manslaughter charge, and she remains jailed on a $75,000 bond.
What investigators allege
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, officers detailed in an arrest affidavit that they recovered two glass pipes during a search of the home, including one tucked in a bedside table next to the baby's crib. The affidavit says the mother tested positive for methamphetamine and benzodiazepines and told investigators the baby had been born with meth in his system. Police say another child in the home discovered the infant unresponsive after the mother fed him around 6 or 7 a.m. and placed him back in bed on July 27, 2025.
Charges and the law
She was booked on a manslaughter charge, a felony under Texas law that is classified as a second-degree offense and carries a possible sentence of two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Per Texas Public Law, manslaughter applies when someone recklessly causes another person's death. Prosecutors are expected to review the medical examiner's findings along with the arrest affidavit before deciding whether to seek any additional charges.
Evidence from the home
The arrest affidavit, as described by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, states that one glass pipe was found in a bedside table next to the crib and that the mother had been seen smoking meth just steps from the infant. A forensic interview with a child in the home reportedly indicated the mother "would always" smoke with Zachariah in the room. Police documents also say the mother was the last person to see the infant alive and that two glass pipes were recovered during the search of the residence.
Broader context
Deaths involving stimulants such as methamphetamine have climbed sharply over the last two decades, with federal data showing a rise in psychostimulant-related fatalities. Data from the CDC show large increases in psychostimulant-involved overdose deaths in recent years. North Texas has seen other infant deaths linked to meth exposure, including a 2022 Ellis County case in which an autopsy found "toxic effects of methamphetamine," as reported by FOX 4.
What’s next
The case now moves through the Tarrant County court system, where bail conditions, formal charges and any preliminary hearings will be set and scheduled. For the moment, the mother remains in custody while investigators and prosecutors continue reviewing the medical examiner's report and the arrest affidavit. According to reporting, anyone with information about the case can contact Fort Worth police.
