Parents arrested for murder after letting son, 7, get to 18 stone before he died

A seven-year-old boy died weighing 18 stone with his parents arrested for murder, child abuse and torture.

A seven-year-old boy died weighing 18 stone with his parents arrested for murder, child abuse and torture.

Casper, from Flint Township in Michigan, was 4.2 ft tall and weighed more than 18 stone when he died from heart failure in November.

Damien and Jessica O’Brien were arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said: ‘On the face of it, this is cruel and extreme suffering from this child caused by the neglect of the parents.

‘That is obesity. This child did not have a pediatrician, was only taken to the doctor I believe, according to the police report, once.’

This is despite the family having health insurance and the parents taking their dog to the vet the morning Casper died.

The children did not go to school and Child Protective Services did not know they existed.

The landlord tried to get into the home in November concerned about the home, but the parents would not let him inside.

In a funeral tribute posted in November, the family described Casper as a ‘bright, loving young boy whose joyful spirit touched everyone around him’.

They said: ‘He loved watching Super Monsters, especially his favorite character, Frankie Mash.