Neglect in Michigan: Parents accused of murdering their 7-year-old son who weighed 115 kg

Damian O’Brien, 40, and his wife, Jessica O’Brien, 41, of Michigan, are accused of murdering their seven-year-old son, Casper, who died of heart failure in the family’s run-down home. US media reported that the seven-year-old boy weighed 115 kg when he was found lifeless in his home in the town of Flint in November 2025. In addition to second-degree murder, the two face charges of child abuse and torture.

The police arrived at the family home following an emergency call about a child in distress. Kasper was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. According to the medical report, the cause of death is dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that leads to heart failure, while severe obesity contributed to his death. The boy’s height was 127 centimeters and his weight was considerably outside the healthy weight defined for his peers.

“On the face of it, this is cruel and extreme suffering caused to this child due to parental neglect,” said District Attorney David Leighton in an interview with the WJRT network. “The boy suffered from obesity. He didn’t have a pediatrician, and I believe he was only taken to a doctor once in his entire life.” Leighton noted that despite the children’s condition, the father had a good job and the family had health insurance.

Prosecutor Leighton revealed that the children had never been to school and were not known to the welfare authorities. “None of these children even existed in the eyes of the government,” Leighton explained. “The welfare services were never there, nobody knew about them and they didn’t go to school.” Kasper’s five-year-old sister also lives in the house, and the police described the place as a hoarding environment.

The morning their son died, the parents even called the vet to request treatment for their dog. “I can’t think of anything other than terrible and extraordinary neglect,” Leighton added. “In my view, this is improper and intentional behavior, which is second degree murder.”

The O’Briens are currently being held in the Genesee County Jail without the possibility of bail. The two were brought before a judge this week and are expected to appear in court again on July 2.