WWMT-TV published June 27, 2026: Parents face murder, torture, abuse charges after 7-year-old son with "morbid obesity" died. A 7-year-old boy’s death in Flint Township has led to second-degree murder and child abuse charges against his parents after authorities say they found him in distress inside a home with “deplorable conditions.” Damien and Jessica O’Brien are jailed following a monthslong investigation, according to the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutor David Leyton called the case “very sad.”
ABC12 published June 27, 2026: Neighbor reacts to arrest of Damien and Jessica O’Brien of Flint Twp. after 7-year-old son Casper died at 255 pounds. Parent charged with 2nd-degree murder.
ABC12 published June 25, 2026: Flint Twp. 7-year-old dies weighing 255 lbs.; parents charged with 2nd-degree murder. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton charged 40-year-old Damien O'Brien and his wife, 41-year-old Jessica O'Brien, with second-degree murder following the death of their 7-year-old son Casper. The boy was 50.5 inches tall and weighed 255 pounds when he died.
ABC12 News
written by Terry Camp
Thursday June 25, 2026
FLINT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJRT) - The parents of a 7-year-old boy who weighed more than 200 pounds when he died face murder, child abuse and torture charges.
The case began to unfold on Nov. 4, 2025, when a 911 call was made for a young boy in distress at a Flint Township home. He was rushed to a hospital, but he died.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton charged 40-year-old Damien O'Brien and his wife, 41-year-old Jessica O'Brien, with second-degree murder following the death of their 7-year-old son Casper. The boy was 50.5 inches tall and weighed 255 pounds when he died.
"On the face of it, this is cruel and extreme suffering from this child caused by the neglect of the parents," Leyton said.
Flint Township Police came to the home on Dania for a report of a child in distress. Casper was taken to Hurley Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
The cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy, which causes heart failure, with a contributing cause being morbid obesity. The CDC lists a healthy weight for a 7-year-old boy who is 50 and a half inches tall generally ranges between 50 and 73 pounds.
"That is obesity. This child did not have a pediatrician, was only taken to the doctor I believe, according to the police report, once," Leyton said.
Leyton said the father has a good job and the family has real health insurance. The morning the child died, they even called their veterinarian to have their dog treated.
The O'Brien's also have a 5-year-old daughter.
"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," says Leyton.
On the day police were at the home in November, the owner of the house stopped by, concerned, believing the house was falling into disrepair. The couple wasn't letting him in the house, instead leaving the rent on the porch.
"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," Leyton said.
Police described the living conditions in the home as a hoarding situation. ABC12 could not reach the parents' attorney for comment.
The O'Briens are being held at the Genesee County Jail on no bond. They are due back in court July 2.
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