A Michigan couple is facing murder charges after their 7-year-old son died of heart disease weighing more than 250 lbs., authorities allege.

On June 24, Jessica O’Brien, 41, and Damien O’Brien, 40, of Flint Township, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder, torture and three counts of second-degree child abuse in connection with the 2025 death of their son, Casper O’Brien, according to online court records.

The felony complaint obtained by PEOPLE alleges that at the time of his death, the child was “immobile” because his parents failed to provide him with proper nutrition, failed to take him to the doctor for treatment even though the family had health insurance, failed to provide an exercise regimen to help him and failed to provide a safe and clean environment for him.

“This was a sad and horrific case involving the wanton and willful neglect by two parents for the care, welfare and medical needs of their son,” Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said in a statement to PEOPLE.

“Their neglect led to their child suffering severe bed sores, various rashes and other physical health disorders including extreme morbid obesity that ultimately led to his early death.”

The boy didn’t have a pediatrician, Leyton told 12 News.

In Feb. 2024, he was taken to see his primary care doctor, who referred him to a pediatric endocrinologist, according to a forensic autopsy report, Mlive.com reports. But the boy never saw the endocrinologist.

On the morning Casper died, however, his parents allegedly called their veterinarian about their dog, Leyton said, 12 News reports.

The incident came to light just before 9 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2025, when Jessica O’Brien called 911 to report that Casper wasn’t breathing, police said, according to Mlive.com, 12 News and WKRC.

Officers found the boy in a makeshift bed where he slept with his parents and 5-year-old sister,, police said, Mlive.com reports.

EMS performed CPR on the boy, who was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Casper's cause of death was listed as dilated cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease, with morbid obesity as a contributing condition, according to the Genesee County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The family’s rental home was “absolutely disgusting” and filled with piles of trash, police and Children’s Protective Services allege, Mlive.com reports.

Officers said the home had one bathroom, with a broken toilet filled with feces, Mlive.com reports.

Casper had autism and did not go to school, according to police.

In his obituary, he was remembered as "a bright, loving young boy whose joyful spirit touched everyone around him." 

The O'Briens are being held at the Genesee County Jail on no bond. They are due back in court on July 2.

Damien's attorney, Elias Fanous, told PEOPLE that it "would be premature to comment on the allegations and charges that Mr. O’Brien is facing," as he has not yet received any discovery from the prosecution.

"I will not speculate about the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate case," Fanous said, adding that he "will defend Mr. O’Brien in the courtroom, not through the media" and "has no further comment at this time."

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.