A Michigan couple has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of their seven-year-old son, who weighed 255 pounds (115.7 kg) at the time of his death. The boy, identified as Casper O’Brien, died on November 4, 2025, after a 911 call reported a medical emergency at the family’s home in Flint Township.
Details of the case
According to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, Damien O’Brien, 40, and Jessica O’Brien, 41, were charged after an investigation revealed they failed to take their son to a doctor and did not provide a safe living environment. The child was found in a makeshift bed shared by four family members, police said.
Casper stood 4 feet 2.5 inches (1.3 meters) tall and weighed 255 pounds, far exceeding U.S. averages and pediatric recommendations. A forensic autopsy report indicated that Casper was last examined by his primary care physician in February 2024, who referred him to a pediatric endocrinologist—an appointment the parents never kept.
Prosecutor's statements
“This child did not have a pediatrician, was only taken to the doctor I believe, according to the police report, once,” Leyton told Michigan news outlet WJRT. He also noted that the family had resources, as Damien O’Brien had a stable job providing health insurance.
The deputy medical examiner, John A. Bechinski, wrote in the autopsy report that the child’s diet consisted largely of potato chips and fries due to texture issues, according to MLive.
Additional charges
Court records show the couple also faces a charge of second-degree child abuse involving a five-year-old girl in the home, who was also considered morbidly obese. Authorities said she was found outside naked, dirty, and with knotted hair. If convicted, the O’Briens could face life in prison.
