Damien O’Brien, 40, and Jessica O’Brien, 41, have been charged with second-degree murder, torture, and three counts of second-degree child abuse following the death of their seven-year-old son, Casper O'Brien, who weighed 255 pounds (116 kilograms) when he died in November last year. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton announced the charges on Monday, stating that the parents failed to provide proper nutrition and medical care.
Details of the Case
Casper O'Brien died after first responders were called to the family's home in Flint, Michigan, because he had stopped breathing. According to the Genesee County Medical Examiner’s report, Casper was 4 feet 2.5 inches (128 centimeters) tall and medically classified as obese. His cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and weakened, with his weight being a contributing factor.
Prosecutor Leyton said, “Clearly the parents were feeding the child improperly, to say the least. He wasn’t getting the nutrition he needed.” He added that Casper had a steady diet of snack foods and was nonverbal and bedridden, suffering from severe bed sores and various rashes.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
The parents were arraigned last week and are being held without bond in Genesee County Jail, about an hour's drive northwest of Detroit. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Thursday. The criminal complaints allege that the parents failed to take Casper for medical treatment despite having health insurance.
Elias Fanous, attorney for Damien O’Brien, stated that his client is “innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law” and declined further comment. An attorney for Jessica O’Brien did not respond to requests for comment.
Background and Neglect
According to the autopsy report, law enforcement and Child Protective Services found piles of trash in the home, and Casper was not enrolled in school. Leyton described the hoarding as “terrible.” One of the child abuse charges relates to the couple’s five-year-old daughter, who has been placed in foster care.
Casper last saw his primary care provider in February 2024, when he weighed 104 pounds (47 kilograms) and was diagnosed with a cough, congestion, and a metabolic disease. The mother was given information on a healthy diet and exercise, and Casper was referred to a pediatric endocrinologist but never saw one. The metabolic disease was not specified in available medical records.
Leyton expressed shock at the case, saying, “It’s a very, very sad and tragic situation. I’ve been the prosecuting attorney for 22 years and I thought I’d seen it all but I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”
