Parents charged with murder after 7-year-old son died of heart disease at 255 pounds
Damien and Jessica O’Brien, the parents of a 7-year-old boy who died of heart disease in Flint Township, Michigan, have been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse.
The young boy, Casper O’Brien, weighed 255 pounds at the time of his death in November 2025. The official cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy brought on by morbid obesity. According to reports, the 7-year-old was not enrolled in school and had a history of nonverbal autism. His day-to-day diet allegedly consisted of unhealthy snack foods—potato chips, for example—and nothing else.
Damien and Jessica O’Brien have also been charged with abusing and neglecting their 5-year-old daughter, who was found in an unhealthy living situation and placed in temporary foster care.
“I can't think of what else this is, other than extraordinary, terrible neglect,” Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton told ABC 12 News in an interview. “And to me, that is willful and wanton misconduct, which is second-degree murder.”
The two parents are currently being held at Genesee County Jail. Their next court date is Thursday, July 2.
If found guilty, they could face up to life in prison.
Click here to read Casper O’Brien’s obituary.
Cardiomyopathy at heart of another tragic death
This is the second time in recent months cardiomyopathy has been at the center of a mainstream news story. Back in April, the family of a 17-year-old girl in Texas filed a wrongful death lawsuit against two energy drink distributors after she died unexpectedly from caffeine-induced cardiomyopathy
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.