A Michigan couple has been charged with murder after authorities revealed that their seven‑year‑old son died weighing over 250 pounds (113 kg).
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case began on 4 November 2025 after a 911 call reported a young boy in medical distress at a residence in Flint Township, Michigan. The child, identified as Casper O’Brien, died after being transported to a hospital.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton recently charged Damien O’Brien, 40, and Jessica O’Brien, 41, with second‑degree murder in connection with their son’s death.
At the time of his death, Casper stood 4 feet, 2.5 inches tall (1.3 meters) and weighed 255 pounds, a figure that far exceeds U.S. averages and pediatric recommendations.
A complaint filed by the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office alleges that the O’Briens inflicted serious physical harm on their son, who was reportedly unable to move independently.
Authorities further alleged that the couple failed to seek medical care for Casper and did not provide him with a safe living environment before his death. Police reported that the boy was found in a makeshift bed shared by four family members, according to the Michigan news outlet MLive.
If convicted, the O’Briens could face sentences of life imprisonment.
A forensic autopsy report indicates that Casper’s primary care physician last examined him in February 2024, when he was referred to a pediatric endocrinologist. According to the report, his parents never attended that appointment.
“It was reported that the decedent’s diet consisted of potato chips and fries due to texture issues,” wrote John A. Bechinski, the deputy medical examiner, in the forensic autopsy report, according to MLive.
“This child did not have a pediatrician and, according to the police report, was only taken to a doctor once,” Leyton told the Michigan news outlet WJRT.
He further claimed that Casper’s family was not lacking in resources. Leyton said Damien O’Brien held a stable job that provided health insurance for the entire family.
Court records also indicate that the couple faces a charge of second‑degree child abuse involving another child in the home, a five‑year‑old girl, as reported by NBC News.
According to the complaint, the girl was also classified as morbidly obese. Authorities said she was found outside the home naked, dirty, and with knots in her hair.
