A Michigan couple has been charged with murder after their seven-year-old son died weighing more than 250lbs (113kg) - a weight that, shockingly, is not recommended for anyone, let alone a child who hasn't even reached second grade.

The investigation began on 4 November 2025, when a 911 call reported a young boy in medical distress at a home in Flint township. The child, Casper O'Brien, died after being taken to a hospital. Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton charged parents Damien O'Brien, 40, and Jessica O'Brien, 41, with second-degree murder.

At the time of his death, Casper stood 4ft 2.5in (1.3 meters) and weighed 255lbs - well above US averages and pediatric recommendations, which tend to frown upon children being nearly twice the weight of a healthy adult.

A complaint alleges the O'Briens caused serious physical harm to their son, who was reportedly immobile. Authorities also claim the couple failed to take Casper to a doctor and did not provide a safe living environment. Police found the boy in a makeshift bed shared by four family members, which sounds less like a bed and more like a human Tetris game.

A forensic autopsy report reveals Casper was last examined by his primary care physician in February 2024, when he was referred to a pediatric endocrinologist. His parents never brought him to that appointment. Deputy medical examiner John A. Bechinski wrote: "It was reported that the decedent's diet was potato chips and fries because of texture issues" - a diet plan that would make a nutritionist weep.

Leyton told WJRT: "This child did not have a pediatrician, was only taken to the doctor I believe, according to the police report, once." He noted the family had resources: Damien O'Brien had a stable job with health insurance. So it wasn't a lack of means; it was a lack of, well, parenting.

The couple also faces a charge of second-degree child abuse involving a five-year-old girl in the home, who was also medically considered morbidly obese. Authorities found her outside the home naked, dirty, and with knots in her hair - details that paint a grim picture of neglect.

If convicted, the O'Briens could face life in prison, which is at least a step up from the living conditions they provided.