The parents of a 7-year-old Michigan boy whose weight ballooned to 255 pounds due to a steady diet of chips, French fries and apple juice are accused of killing their son.
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Prosecutors in Flint charged Damien and Jessica O’Brien with second-degree murder, child abuse and torture in the death of Casper O’Brien.
“On the face of it, this is cruel and extreme suffering from this child caused by the neglect of the parents,” Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton told local media in a story his office linked to on its Facebook page.
TMZ reported the child had weighed only 104 pounds in February 2024.
“Casper was a bright, loving young boy whose joyful spirit touched everyone around him,” read an obituary that said the victim was preceded in death by a younger brother.
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He also had a 5-year-old sister. The children reportedly lived in squalor and weren’t enrolled in school. TMZ said there’s no indication Casper got any exercise. He reportedly suffered from bed sores.
WJRT ABC12 said Casper’s death was the result of heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy and obesity. Children his age who stand 50.5 inches tall like Casper weigh around 60 pounds on average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Leyton said the victim’s dad was employed and had health insurance, though it didn’t appear Casper was receiving medical checkups. The family reportedly contacted a veterinarian to have their dog treated the morning their son died.
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The victim’s parents are scheduled to appear in court on July 2.