A New York couple described as hoarders have been charged with murder and child abuse after their severely obese 7-year-old son, Casper O’Brien, died of heart failure weighing a shocking 255 pounds, prosecutors said.

Damien O’Brien and his wife, Jessica O’Brien, face multiple charges including murder, child abuse, and torture in connection with the boy’s death, which authorities have attributed to “extraordinary, terrible neglect.”

According to court documents and statements from prosecutors, Casper had never attended school and had only seen a doctor once in his short life. The child’s extreme weight — far exceeding healthy ranges for his age — was allegedly the result of years of parental inaction and failure to provide proper care, medical attention, or nutrition.

The disturbing case came to light following Casper’s death, prompting an investigation that uncovered the family’s hoarding lifestyle and the apparent lack of basic safeguards for the boy’s health and wellbeing. Images circulating in media reports show the parents in mugshots alongside a photo of young Casper, highlighting the tragic contrast between the child’s condition and the neglect he endured.

Prosecutors emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy, stating that the parents’ alleged failure to address their son’s rapidly deteriorating health amounted to criminal conduct. “This level of neglect is beyond comprehension,” one official reportedly said during proceedings.

Child welfare experts note that cases involving extreme childhood obesity due to parental neglect are rare but devastating, often involving complex issues such as hoarding disorder, mental health challenges, and systemic failures in early intervention.

The O’Briens remain in custody as the case proceeds through the courts. Authorities have not released additional details about potential other children in the home or the full extent of the alleged hoarding conditions.

This case has reignited public discussion about the responsibilities of parents in safeguarding children’s health, the warning signs of severe neglect, and the role of social services in identifying at-risk families before tragedies occur.

Further updates are expected as the legal proceedings continue.