Prosecutors say the 7-year-old was immobile, medically neglected and living in unsafe conditions.
FLINT TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Two Michigan parents have been charged with second-degree murder after authorities said their 7-year-old son died in November weighing 255 pounds and living in severe neglect inside a Flint Township home.
Damien O’Brien, 40, and Jessica O’Brien, 41, face charges tied to the death of their son, Casper O’Brien, and the care of a younger child in the home. Genesee County prosecutors said the case moved forward after a months-long review of medical findings, police reports and conditions found at the family’s rental house.
The investigation began Nov. 4, 2025, when first responders were called to the home for a report of a child in medical distress. Authorities said Casper was having trouble breathing and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said the case involved “wanton and willful neglect” of the boy’s care, welfare and medical needs.
According to prosecutors, Casper was 4 feet, 2.5 inches tall and weighed 255 pounds when he died. The medical examiner listed his cause of death as dilated cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease, with morbid obesity as a contributing condition. Authorities said the boy was largely immobile and had not received needed follow-up medical care despite the family having health insurance.
Court records say the parents failed to provide proper nutrition, medical treatment, exercise and a safe living space. Investigators said Casper had been referred to a pediatric endocrinologist after a medical visit in February 2024, but the appointment did not happen. Officials also said the boy, who was autistic, had not attended school and had little formal contact with public systems before his death.
Police and child welfare workers described the home as packed with trash and unsafe for children. Reports said Casper slept in a makeshift bed with his parents and 5-year-old sister. Authorities said the house had limited space to move around and that a bathroom toilet was broken and filled with feces. The younger child was removed from the home after investigators arrived.
The O’Briens are charged with second-degree murder, torture and multiple counts of second-degree child abuse. Prosecutors said one set of child abuse charges is tied to Casper, while another is related to the younger child. The parents were being held without bond at the Genesee County Jail. If convicted of second-degree murder, they could face life in prison.
Defense responses were not immediately detailed in public reports. The charges remain allegations, and both parents are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Their next court appearance is scheduled for July 2, when the case is expected to continue before a Genesee County judge.
As of Saturday, the criminal case remains pending, the younger child is out of the home, and prosecutors are preparing for the next hearing on July 2.
Author note: Last updated June 27, 2026.