A seven-year-old boy from Flint Township in Michigan died in November, weighing an astonishing 18 stone. This is five times the normal weight for a child of his age and height, standing at just 4ft 2ins. The boy's parents, Damien and Jessica O'Brien, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, child abuse, and torture.
The child's death from heart failure was attributed to extreme weight gain due to neglect by his parents. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton described the case as one of cruel and extreme suffering, caused by the neglect of the parents. He noted that the child had no pediatrician and was only taken to the doctor once, despite having health insurance.
The family's home was described as a hoarding situation by officers, who were unable to enter the property when the landlord attempted to do so in November. The parents' lack of care for their children was further highlighted by the fact that they took their dog to the vet the morning of the boy's death. The couple also has a five-year-old daughter.
In a shocking revelation, a tribute posted online revealed that the children did not attend school and that Child Protective Services was not aware of their existence. The authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the boy's death and the neglect of his siblings.
