The parents of a seven-year-old boy in Michigan have been charged with second-degree murder after their son died weighing 255 pounds.
Casper O’Brien died on November 4, 2025, after police responded to a 911 call for a child in distress at the family home in Flint Township.
The boy was taken to hospital but died shortly afterward from dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes heart failure, with morbid obesity listed as a contributing factor. He was 4’2″ tall and weighed 255 pounds.
The CDC says a child his age and height should weigh between 50 and 73 pounds.
His parents, Damien O’Brien, 40, and Jessica O’Brien, 41, have been charged with second-degree murder, child abuse and torture. Both are being held without bond until their next court appearance on July 2.
A child who barely existed on paper
Casper had never attended school and had only seen a doctor once in his entire life. The family also has a five-year-old daughter who had similarly never been enrolled in school or registered with any government agency.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton told local outlet WJRT that the case amounted to some of the most severe neglect he had encountered. He said neither child had ever been known to CPS, and described Casper’s suffering as cruel and deliberate, thus meeting the threshold for second-degree murder under Michigan law.
Parents called vet for dog same morning as Caspar died
The neglect was not caused by poverty. Damien held a steady job and the family had health insurance. On the very morning Casper died, the O’Briens called their veterinarian to have their dog seen by a doctor.
The family home was described as a hoarder property. Their landlord had tried to gain access in November after growing concerned about conditions inside, but the O’Briens refused to let him in.
A funeral tribute posted after Casper’s death described him as a bright and loving boy who enjoyed watching the children’s show Super Monsters. He was preceded in death by a younger brother, Phoenix.
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