Damien O'Brien, 40, and his wife Jessica O'Brien, 41, from Flint Township, Michigan, have been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, child abuse, and torture following the death of their seven-year-old son, Casper. The boy weighed 255 pounds (18 stone 3 pounds) at the time of his death from heart failure on November 4, 2025.
Child's Condition and Arrest Details
Police were called to the family home after reports of Casper's deteriorating health. The child, who stood 4 feet 2 inches tall, had a weight that the CDC considers healthy for a boy of that height to be between 50 and 73 pounds. Casper's weight was more than three times the upper limit of that range.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton described the case as one of extreme neglect. "On the face of it, this is cruel and extreme suffering from this child caused by the neglect of the parents," Leyton told WJRT. "That is obesity. This child did not have a pediatrician, was only taken to the doctor, I believe ... once."
Broader Neglect and Hoarding
The couple also has another child, and authorities revealed that neither child attended school or received regular medical care. The family home was described as a hoarding situation. Leyton noted that the parents called their dog's veterinarian for treatment on the morning Casper died, indicating a pattern of neglect.
"None of these kids even existed in the eyes of the government. CPS had never been out there, nobody knew about these kids, they had not been to school," Leyton said. "I can't think of what else this is, other than extraordinary, terrible neglect. And to me, that is willful and wanton misconduct, which is second-degree murder."
Legal Proceedings and Memorial
Damien and Jessica O'Brien are currently being held without bond at Genesee County Jail. Their next court appearance is scheduled for July 2. A memorial page for Casper described him as a warm and cheerful child, contrasting sharply with the circumstances of his death.
