Michigan Parents Charged with Murder Over 7-Year-Old Son Who Weighed 255 Pounds

A Michigan couple, Damien and Jessica O’Brien, have been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse in the death of their seven-year-old son, Casper O’Brien, who weighed about 255 pounds (4'2.5”). Authorities say he suffered serious harm and lived in an unsafe, cramped home, lacking regular medical care; he was found in a makeshift bed shared by four family members. An autopsy cited a diet of chips and fries and noted Casper hadn’t seen a pediatrician since early 2024. A second child in the home, a five-year-old girl who is also morbidly obese, was found in troubling conditions. If convicted, the O’Briens could face life in prison.