A couple has been charged with the murder of their 7-year-old son, who became severely obese after being fed a diet predominantly consisting of snack foods, resulting in a weight gain of 151 pounds over less than two years before his death.
According to Genesee County Attorney David Layton, “It is clear that the parents were feeding their child an inappropriate diet, to say the least.” He emphasized that little Casper O’Brien, who weighed 255 pounds when he passed away in his family’s Michigan home last November, was not receiving adequate nutrition.
Prosecutors revealed that Casper had been consuming a “steady diet of snack foods” right up until his death. But a poor diet wasn’t the only health issue noted; authorities believe Casper was nonverbal, bedridden, and suffering from bedsores and various skin rashes.
“This is a very sad and tragic situation,” Layton remarked, adding that in his 22 years as a prosecuting attorney, he had never witnessed anything quite like this.
Casper died from “dilated cardiomyopathy,” a condition that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood, as stated in a report from the Genesee County Coroner’s Office, which also noted that his excessive weight was a contributing factor to his death.
The disturbing allegations reflect a troubling pattern of neglect by his parents, Damian and Jessica O’Brien.
Further claims indicate that their home was filled with trash and that Casper had not been attending school, according to an autopsy report referencing information from law enforcement and Child Protective Services.
The criminal complaint also mentions that the family failed to seek medical attention for Casper, despite having health insurance coverage. According to the autopsy report, he had seen a doctor in February 2024 and weighed 104 pounds at that time.
The parents are facing charges of second-degree murder, torture, and second-degree child abuse in Genesee County, located about an hour from Detroit.
Damian O’Brien’s attorney commented that his client is “innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
