Parents face charges over the murder of their 7-year-old 116-kilogram son, while on the day of his death they called the veterinarian about the dog

A couple from Flint Township, in the U.S. state of Michigan, has been charged with second-degree murder, child abuse and torture following the death of their 7-year-old son, who weighed around 116 kilograms at the time of his death.

According to prosecutors, Damien O’Brien, 40, and his wife Jessica O’Brien, 41, left their son, Casper, to endure extreme neglect over a long period of time.

The child died on November 4, 2025, after being rushed to hospital. The medical report states that the cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that leads to heart failure, while morbid obesity was assessed as a contributing factor.

Casper was 127 centimeters tall and weighed 116 kilograms, a weight far above the norm for a child of that age.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said the case reflects deliberate and extraordinarily severe neglect on the part of the parents. “This child suffered cruel and extreme pain and suffering as a result of his parents’ neglect,” Leyton said.

The investigation found that Casper had never attended school and had been examined by a doctor only once in his entire life, even though the family had health insurance. Authorities also found that he and his 5-year-old sister were not listed as registered in state systems and had never been under the supervision of child protective services.

According to the prosecutor, on the morning Casper died, the parents contacted their veterinarian to deal with the family dog.

Police described the home where the family lived as being in severe disrepair, with a heavy accumulation of clutter. Damien and Jessica O’Brien are being held without bond, while their next court hearing has been scheduled for July 2.