Boy, 7, Weighed 255 lbs; Parents Charged with Murder

Parents Damien and Jessica O'Brien, both aged 40 and 41 respectively, have been charged with murder, torture, and child abuse following the death of their seven-year-old son, Casper. The boy weighed 255 pounds (116 kilograms) at the time of his death last November, prompting prosecutors to state the parents fed him improperly and that he lacked necessary nutrition.

Casper died after first responders were called to the family's home in Flint because he had stopped breathing. The official cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy, with his extreme weight identified as a contributing factor. Medical records indicate Casper last saw a doctor in February 2024, weighing 104 pounds, where his mother received guidance on diet and exercise, yet he was not referred to specialists.

Authorities suspect Casper subsisted on a diet of snack foods and suffered from severe bed sores and rashes. The home was reportedly filled with trash, and the child was not enrolled in school. Their five-year-old daughter has been placed in foster care. The O'Briens have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bond pending a probable cause hearing.