Hidden True Crime - Hoarder Parents Charged After 255 lb 7-Year-Old Found Dead with "Feral" Sister in Home | FULL Story

Episode Date: July 7, 2026

A healthy 7-year-old boy somehow grew to 255 pounds, became bedridden, covered in infected bedsores, and died before anyone intervened. Now, his parents face second-degree murder, torture, and ch*ld ab*se charges. In this episode, Lauren Matthias examines the heartbreaking death of Casper O'Brien, the police investigation, medical records, 911 call, and newly released court documents to uncover how this tragedy unfolded. Was this deliberate abuse, devastating neglect, untreated mental illness, or something even more complicated? Sponsor: Jones Road Beauty: Use code HIDDEN at https://jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of my favorite things about getting dressed in the summer is finding those few pieces that somehow work for so many occasions. And lately, Quince's 100% organic cotton waffle stitch open cardigan has become one of my favorite layering pieces. It is perfect when I am headed into an over-air-conditioned courtroom or studio, and I have been pairing it with their brown Italian leather sandals, which is they have become another favorite because they are so comfortable while still looking polished. And that is what I love about quince. They make elevated essentials using premium materials like organic cotton, European linen, and Italian leather without the traditional retail markup. One thing I always say about quince is I love how timeless it is. It is simply timeless. Everybody knows I like some trendy things. But ultimately, what I like in quality pieces is this sort of timeless look. And their quality is incredible. Everything feels timeless instead of trendy. They also have beautiful pieces for

your home from bedding and bath to kitchen essentials and furniture. Make your summer wardrobe feel easier and timeless. Go to quince.com slash hidden true crime for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada too. Yes, Canada too. That's Quince, Q-U-I-N-C-E dot com slash hidden two crime for free shipping and 365 day returns quince.com slash hidden true crime. The day was November 4th, 2025. Paramedics did all they could. But little Casper O'Brien, he could not be saved. This case is unlike anything we've ever seen before.

Because seven years earlier, a healthy baby boy was born to two seemingly normal happy parents. But then years later, that baby boy was seven and reportedly weighed 250 pounds. So the average weight of a seven-year-old boy, even one who might spend too much time playing video games, is around 50 pounds. So at 250 pounds, Casper was not independently mobile. He was covered in bed sores. And eventually, he died. Prosecutors alleged he didn't just die, though. They say that he was killed and have charged his parents with second-degree murder. That was actually initially what grabbed my attention. I wanted to understand the charges.

I wanted to read the police docs. And that led me down a rabbit hole unlike anything I have ever seen before. And what I've uncovered, the details are shocking. And they have made me honestly really angry. because how does a little child go from healthy and happy to then morbidly obese at such a young age and then ultimately end up dead? Dead before any doctor could intervene or before anyone could save this little boy, little Casper, how are his parents, though, responsible in his death? Or are they? In this episode, I want to take you through everything. And it's a lot. Because from what I've been able to see and sort through this family,

wasn't always waving, giant red flags that would make people think that they'd end up with charges of murder, charges of torture, charges of child abuse. In fact, I uncovered some info that actually paints the picture of two parents who appear to be loving and caring. Yeah. So who are Jessica and Damien O'Brien, the parents of Casper? What's hidden beneath the facade? What did they allegedly do. And most importantly, why? My name is Lori Matthias, and this is hidden true crime. This story ultimately starts as a love story. It's about a couple named Jessica and Damian O'Brien. They're now both in their early 40s. But when they were married back in October of 2013, they were still in their late 20s. And from what I can gather through social media, they seem to share similar

interests in hobbies like dungeons and dragons, fantasy, that whole genre. Jessica, who also goes by Jesse, was also a huge dog lover. So about five years into their marriage, they decided to start a family. On September 25th, 2018, their son, Casper, Jacob, Shane O'Brien was born. And in the photographs they share online, Casper looks like a happy little boy surrounded by loved ones. He's been described as bright, loving, a loving boy who loved watching super monsters, especially his favorite character, Frankie Mash. Now, of course, we all know this, that photographs only capture a tiny moment in time, right? They don't tell us what's actually happening behind the scenes or how each child is really doing. But based on what we can actually see, Casper appeared to be developing

normally during those early months. After the newborn stage, he was sitting up on his own, eventually pulling himself up to stand. And in one photo, I saw he even had a little toddler trampoline. And if you've ever been around toddlers, you know those things are usually a huge hit. And then fast forward to October 2019, the O'Brien family. They moved into a three-bedroom rental home at 52010 Daniel Street in Flint, Michigan. And on paper, it looked like they were settling into the next chapter of their lives. They had to be a three-bedroom rental home. They had to be a little bit of more space, a home that seemed perfect for a growing family, and the timing could not have made more sense because, well, Jessie was pregnant again. Casper was going to be a big brother. But this time,

she wasn't expecting just one baby. She was expecting twins. Yeah, and during this time, there are plenty of photographs of Damien Jesse and Little Casper, excitedly waiting for the arrival of the newest members of their family. They had already. picked out names, their baby boy would be Phoenix, Damien Alexander, beautiful name. And their baby girl would be Ileana, Kimberly, Patricia. And for their baby shower, they even had these adorable little onesie-shaped cookies made with each of the twins' names on them. And looking back at those photographs now is heartbreaking because they capture a family that had no idea how dramatically their lives were about to change. Going from a family,

of three to a family of five would be overwhelming for just about anyone. Thankfully, Jesse and Damien both appeared to have stable full-time jobs with good benefits, including Blue Cross, Blue Shield Health Insurance. It's not entirely clear what Jesse did for work, but Damien worked in information technology for the insurance company, Delta Dental. And from what's publicly available, his job involved building software and managing the systems that process insurance claims and support patient care. It's also been reported. that he worked remotely from home, which you would think would make life with three little ones at least a little bit more manageable. As prepared as the O'Brien's may have been for life with

three children under the age of two, nothing could have prepared them for what happened next. I have spent a lot of years on camera between local news, interviews, documentaries, and now hidden true crime that I have truly tried just about every makeup approach out there. And honestly, one thing that I got tired of was feeling like I was putting putting on so many layers to look just awake and presentable. And that is why I have become such a fan of Jones Road Beauty. The product that I keep reaching for is Miracle Bomb. It gives my skin that healthy, natural glow,

and it does not look like I am wearing a ton of makeup because I'm not. I love that it enhances my skin instead of covering it up. The best part, Jones Road Beauty's Miracle Bomb replaces multiple products in my routine. I use it for a little color, a little glow, and that fresh put-together look when I am running out the door. Miracle Balm helps me look polished in under a minute. And now Jones Road has launched their new foundation stick, which has been perfect for those days when I want, or should I say when I need a little bit more coverage, it's lightweight, it's buildable, somehow manages to even out my skin without ever feeling heavy or cakey. It just looks like my skin, like my healthy skin.

And what I also appreciate is that Jones Road products are packed with skin-loving ingredients. They're made without a lot of unnecessary ingredients that you might find elsewhere. Modern day makeup, it's clean, it's strategic, it's multifunctional, it's effortless for those effortless routines. And for a limited time, our listeners are getting a free gift on their first purchase when they use code hidden at checkout. Head to jonesroadbeautcom and use code hidden at checkout. After you purchase, they do ask where you heard about them. Please support our show Hidden True Crime and tell them that hidden shoe crime sent you. Jones Road, beauty, and use code hidden at checkout. On May 4th, 2020, their daughter, Ileana was born healthy, but her twin brother, Phoenix, was tragically still

born. I honestly can't imagine the emotional whiplash of that moment you're experiencing one of the happiest days of your life, welcoming your beautiful newborn daughter into the world. Well, at the exact same time trying to process the unimaginable loss of her twin brother. It's joy and devastating grief together combined, colliding all at once. And I don't know how honestly anyone is supposed to make sense of that. That heartbreak is reflected in Jesse's Facebook photos from that time period. There are photographs of baby Ileiana peacefully sleeping, wrapped in a swaddle, being lovingly held by family members, and then there are photos of phoenix's beautifully engraved memorial blocks sitting quietly on a shelf. Those images side by side are incredibly difficult to look at. They paint a picture

of a family trying to celebrate one child while mourning another. It's not hard to imagine that both Jesse and Damien were struggling tremendously. It's also been reported that after this, Damien did unfortunately develop a drinking problem. At the same time, life doesn't just stop because you're grieving, right? When you have young children depending on you, you don't get the opportunity to put everything on pause. You still have diapers to change bottles, to make bills to pay, and toddlers who need your attention every single day. As impossible as it must have felt, they still had to keep moving forward for Casper and for baby Ileana. And now it's also been reported that Casper was nonverbal and had autism. So after doing a little research, I learned that

while some children begin showing early signs of autism between six and 12 months old, delays in speech and language that can eventually lead to a diagnosis of nonverbal autism, that often becomes much more noticeable around 18 to 24 months when expected language milestones are not being met. So there's nothing confirming exactly when Casper's parents first became concerned online that I could find. So I don't want to speculate, but based on Casper's age, it is possible, it's possible that this was around the time that they may have started realizing he wasn't reaching some of those developmental milestones. I also couldn't help but wonder whether the timing played a role in all of this, right? This was right in the middle of the pandemic when getting appointments and doctors and specialists. Was it nearly as easy as it normally would have been?

Or maybe Jesse and Damien simply avoided medical care for other reasons. It's possible that after everything they went through with Phoenix and Ileana's birth, they had their own medical trauma and didn't want to step back into a hospital or doctor's office. I don't know. But what we do know is that investigators later said that Casper only, ever saw a doctor one time, one time. And that was in 2024 with a primary care physician. And that has led me to wonder whether his autism was identified by his parents rather than through a formal evaluation. And to be clear, that doesn't mean they weren't necessarily wrong.

Parents often recognize developmental differences long before anyone else does. I'm only mentioning it because based on everything that's been reported, it does not appear. the Casper ever received a formal diagnosis or the kinds of support services like early intervention that often come along with that diagnosis of autism. That's important because for many autistic children, especially those who are minimally speaking or nonverbal, early intervention is everything. It makes a huge difference in their entire life. Research consistently shows that starting therapies as early as possible can help children develop communication, social and daily living skills, and that can include speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral supports,

and other specialized services. The earlier those services begin, the greater the opportunity to build those skills. Again, it makes all the difference. At the same time, this was all unfolding during the height of the pandemic when many families experienced long-way list canceled appointments and limited access to specialists. I can't say whether that affected the O'Brien's specifically, but it definitely could have. It could have certainly made getting help more difficult, regardless of what was happening behind the scenes. Those photos from those first few years tell a very different story, though, right? Casper appears healthy. He appears active. He appears happy. And so does baby Ileana. There are smiling family

photographs, also pictures with their dogs and moments that look like you'd expect from any other ordinary young growing family. I also spent some time looking closely at the backgrounds of the pictures that Jesse shared online. I can't say for certain that every photograph was taken inside their house on Daniel Street. But I think it's fair to assume, at least some of them were taken in there, these pictures. And yes, there was some clutter. You'll get to that, as you can spot things on the floor here and there, but nothing that immediately jumps out as a home in severe distress. In fact, what home doesn't have clutter with a toddler in it, let alone a toddler and a newborn? It certainly doesn't look like anything like the conditions investigators

would later describe that we'll get into. So these all raise really important. questions for me. Because somewhere, between the middle of 2020 and November of 2025, something changed. And whether it happened gradually or all at once, this family's living conditions deteriorated to the point that multiple investigators would eventually describe the home in shocking detail. So whatever happened during those five years, it completely transformed that house into something almost unrecognizable. Neighbors have since come forward and said they would occasionally see Casper and Ileana playing outside in the family's yard. Looking at the property, they actually had a nice sized front yard and backyard. It would have been perfect, great place

for two young kids to run around and play. But nothing about those interactions seemed particularly unusual to the neighbors. The one thing several neighbors did mention, though, was that they're, in their opinion, both children, along with Jesse and Damien, did appear to be overweight at the time that may not have also seemed especially alarming. But as you will see, Casper's weight eventually became one of the most significant aspects of this case. Look, being overweight by itself is not uncommon, nor is it wrong. Plenty of children go through phases where they gain weight before hitting a gross spurt. And in many cases, it's something that can be managed through healthy diet, physical activity, guidance from pediatrician.

Maybe they also struggle with a hereditary disposition to being larger. That happens. And that's what I wondered. What was it about Casper and his situation? Was he born with something that made it that he was dramatically larger than other children his age. But Casper situation appears to have gone far beyond that. So it was February 12th, 24, when the O'Brien's took Casper to see that primary care physician, right? That one visit that we know about, he was diagnosed with an acute cough, throat congestion, and what's listed in the medical records as metabolic disease. Okay, so during that visit, Casper weighed 104 pounds. The doctor referred him to a pediatric endocrinologist and also provided Jesse with information about healthy nutrition and exercise and information about metabolic

disease. This is a start, right, to help little Casper. But for reasons that are unclear, Jesse and Damien never did take Casper to see the specialist. In fact, according to investigators, they never brought him back to a doctor ever again. And so the last time, 24, 104 pounds, that's especially concerning when you consider Casper's age. February, again, February 2024, he was just over five years old. For a boy that age, a typical healthy weight range

is roughly 34 to 55 pounds. At 104 pounds, Casper weighed nearly twice the upper end of that range, which is exactly why his pediatrician was concerned, wanted him evaluated by a specialist. Jesse and Damien have said that because of Casper's autism, he struggled with significant sensory issues around food. That does make sense. That's actually something many autistic children experience, textures, smells, even colors of food can be overwhelming for children who have autism, making it extremely difficult

to maintain sort of this varied diet that would be. ideal for growing children. According to his parents, Casper would only eat food like chips, French fries, and would only drink apple juice and sugar water. And if that's accurate, an accurate description of what he's eating, it helps explain why his pediatrician was concerned. Feeding challenges associated with autism, very real. But they are also one of the reasons specialists like pediatric dietitians, occupational therapists, feeding therapists, developmental pediatricians can be so important early intervention. They can work with families to gradually expand a child's diet while making sure they're getting the nutrition

that they need. But unfortunately, based on everything that's been reported, everything we've dug into Casper never received that kind of follow-up care. He also was never enrolled in school, which meant he missed another place where children receive evaluations, therapies, that early intervention support I've already talked about. There were very few adults, if any, outside of his home, regularly checking on his well-being. So after that, 24 doctor's appointment, Casper, looks to have become increasingly isolated inside the O'Brien family home. And over that time, that limited diet, combined with everything else that was happening behind closed doors, would have devastating consequences. On November 4th, 2025, Jesse,

called 911 and told the dispatcher that her seven-year-old son wasn't breathing. And what first responders walked into that day is something that many of them say they will never forget. Investigators say that the home was in such severe disarray from what appeared to be years of accumulated trash and clutter that the floor was barely visible. Paramedics had to carefully navigate their way through just to reach Casper. And when they finally made it to the bedroom, they found him lying unresponsive on what was described as a makeshift bed, makeshift bed. Investigators would later say that this bed was shared by all four members of the O'Brien

family. Now, if you remember, this was a three-bedroom house. So at this point, though, an uncle, although it's unclear whether he was on Jesse's or Damian side of the family, an uncle was also living there. So one bedroom was occupied by the uncle, but that would still leave another bedroom in the house. Even so, investigators say the parents and both children were all sleeping together in a single room. Casper was also wearing what was described as a heavily soiled diaper. And first responders noted a strong odor coming from his body.

Paramedics determined that he was in cardiac arrest, and they immediately began life-saving efforts inside the home. but because there wasn't enough space to properly work on Casper. Can you imagine that? They ultimately had to move him out to the ambulance. Within about 10 minutes of the 911 call, Casper arrived at Hurley Medical Center where he was pronounced to dead, a short time later. And back at the house, police began documenting what they were seen.

Casper's five-year-old sister, Ileana, was reportedly running through the home completely naked. One officer instructed Jesse to put clothes on her. Investigators also noted that Ileana appeared dirty and that her hair was severely matted. They just matted. And in the middle of all of this activity, the family's landlord happened to drive by the property. He told officers that he hadn't been inside the house for quite some time because the family had been leaving their rent payments out on the front porch instead of allowing him inside. And whether that was because they were embarrassed by the home's condition or for some other reason we don't know,

it does suggest that they weren't allowing others into the house. Because of the condition Casper was found in, police secured the home and began a more thorough investigation. And what they documented, it was disturbing, guys. So disturbing. Investigators reported that there were a significant amount of bugs. The home's only toilet was not functioning. There was a large amount of feces inside the toilet as well.

as throughout parts of the house and trash had accumulated through the residence. Officers later described the home as, quote, absolutely disgusting and deplorable. Meanwhile, at the hospital, after doctors realized there was nothing more they could do for Casper, their attention turned to documenting the condition of his body. They observed severe pressure sores and extensive rashes. one physician described them as some of the worst open sores and rashes I've ever seen. That is in quotes, the worst open sores and rashes I've ever seen. It didn't take long before medical staff believed child abuse and neglect may have played a role in what happened here.

The criminal complaint specifically says, quote, here, Upon opening the body bag that Casper was contained in, a strong, felt odor came from the back. The smell did not appear to be decomposition or release of gastric gas or juice. The smell was of poor hygiene and filth and possible infection. Initial observations of Casper were shocking. Casper appeared to have not been bathed for an extended period of time. Dirt, dead skin, and unknown buildup

was observed all over Casper's body. Casper had long hair that appeared extremely dirty and began to dreadlock in several areas indicating that it had not been brushed in a long time. Casper's fingernails were very long, unkept, and filthy. Upon examining Casper's scars, skin folds and armpits, I observed redness and open source that appeared to be infected with redness and swelling around the affected areas. Casper's body, to examine his backside, I observed some of the

worst open source and rashes I have ever personally witnessed. Casper's disposable brief diaper was soiled with dry feces and urine. Upon removing Casper's brief, he had deep red rashes with open source to both of the back sides of his legs, thighs, and buttocks that also appeared infected with redness and swelling around the affected areas. Photos were obtained of Casper to accurately depict the level of injury and will be attached to this report, end quote. An autopsy later determined that Casper died from dilated cardiomyopathy with morbid obesity listed as a contributing factor. Dylated cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and weakened, making it unable to pump blood effectively throughout the body. And over time,

that can lead to heart failure and affect other organs, including the lungs. The numbers from the autopsy are almost impossible to comprehend. At the time of his death, Casper measured four feet, two and a half inches tall. Yet he weighed 255 pounds. Just 21 months earlier, at his only documented doctor visit, he had weighed 104 pounds. Remember that? That means, that means that means that this little boy gained approximately 150 pounds in less than two years, all while never returning to a doctor again, or to a pediatric specialist that he had been referred to. That is a staggering amount of weight gain for anyone, anyone, let alone a young child who's barely over four feet tall.

And it raises immediate questions about what had been happening inside that home. Ileana was ultimately taken into protective custody by child protective services. Officials later used a term that sparked a lot of reaction when the case became public. this is their word. It is not mine. But she was described as a feral child, feral. A feral child. When she was evaluated by medical professionals, she was also found to be severely obese for her age as well, weighing around 130 pounds. Doctors additionally noted poor hygiene and a significant cough. As investigators began piecing together what life inside this home had looked like, Jesse and Damien gave explanations for why they believed what had been happening was happening with

Casper. So they explained that his extreme food aversions saying that he would only eat a very limited diet of fries and chips. They also addressed his bed sores by explaining that he had become immobile and bedbound and that he strongly disliked water or getting wet. Okay. And according to them, they tried to keep him clean using baby wipes. instead of bath. The officer interviewing them determined that Casper had not received a bath or a shower in over six months, only this sort of wipe bath two or three times a week. And to be clear, sensory issues and feeding difficulties, again, very real challenges for many children with autism. Those struggles, they're well documented, and they can be extremely difficult for families to manage

without outside support. But they are also the exact kind of issues. That with proper medical care, intervention, they can be addressed with time, with structured therapy. One other detail, investigators uncovered. This sort of really adds to what we already know in the timeline.

On the morning of the day Casper died, Jesse and Damien allegedly took one of their dogs to the veterinarian because it had become sick. In other words, At the same time, their son was reportedly bedridden, suffering from infected bed sores, living in deteriorating conditions. They were more willing to seek medical care for their pet. And not only that, but Jesse told police in an interview that both she and Damien

go to the doctor frequently. So when Jesse was asked why she didn't take Casper, to the doctor, she stated that taking him to the doctor was inconvenient. She said that she would have to wait in the waiting room for a long time to have Casper seen by the doctor for just five minutes and be told that everything was okay. Well, I highly doubt that that would have been the case. And it wasn't the case when she took him in 2024 either. I don't think any doctor would simply look at Casper for five minutes and determine he was okay. Jessica also said that she did not see any any signs that Casper was sick. An officer asked if she ever considered how much pain Casper was in,

and Jessica replied, quote, no, and I probably should have that, quote, blew my mind. The officer asked, why do you say that? And Jesse replied, quote, just seeing this now, I didn't know it was this bad. I was so in my depression that it just, dot, dot. that, end quote. Jessica was then asked if she and Damien ever discussed their concerns for Casper's medical state and the conditions that he was in. And Jessica stated, quote, no, we were falling apart at that point. His drinking had gotten really bad, really, really bad.

And we weren't really, sorry, pulling my glasses here, weren't really communicating. And I was barely taking care of the kids on my own, end quote. Well, after reviewing the condition of the whole. home, the lack of medical care and school enrollment, and what they described as children living in squalor. Squalor. The county prosecutor's office moved forward with charges against Jesse and Damien. And on June 23rd, 26, both were charged with second-degree murder, torture, two counts of second-degree child abuse, and child abuse in the presence of another child. prosecutor David Layton later spoke publicly about the case and these are his words this quote grabbed my attention

so again prosecutor david layton this is what he stated i have been a prosecuting attorney for 22 years and i thought that i had seen it all but i have never seen anything quite like this this was a and horrific case involving the wanton and willful neglect by two parents for the care, welfare, and medical needs of their son. I can't think of what else this is other than extraordinary, terrible neglect. And to me, that is willful and wanton misconduct, which is second-degree murder, end quote. So Layton also noted that the family had access to what he described as excellent insurance coverage. He said, what's baffling to me is that the dad had a good job. He had health insurance, good health insurance. Why didn't they take their child to the doctor is beyond me?

I don't think the school district. I don't think CPS. I don't think anybody in the government knew. These children even existed. That's what the prosecutor said. And after being arraigned, Jesse and Damien are now currently being held in jail without bond. If they are convicted on the murder and tortured charges, they could be facing life in prison. At this time, that that uncle who was also living in the home, remember him, some random, the random uncle in bedroom, too, he has not been charged. I don't know what his situation is. A probable cause hearing was scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 2nd, but that's been postponed. It has yet to happen after the couple's defense attorneys actually requested more time.

to review the discovery in the case. So neither Damien or Jessica appeared in court for the hearings in front of Chief Judge Mark McCabe, but the judge did order them to undergo competency and criminal responsibility evaluations. So both of their defense attorneys have asked the judge for what they refer to as sort of a more reasonable bond because right now there's no bond and argued that the O'Brien's are not a danger to the community and continue to grieve the loss of their son. So Damien's attorney said, quote, this is a tragic case. It shouldn't be made more tragic by him, Damien, having to grieve the loss of his son while in jail, end quote. The attorney also said that he believes the O'Brien's are being overcharged and added, quote, we're still

reviewing discovery here, Judge, but I don't see murder, let alone torture, end quote. Regardless, the judge ultimately denied their motion for lesser bond. And the next court date has been scheduled for September 9th, September 9th. So that brings us to where the case stands now. And there are still more questions and answers about how things reached this point. Yeah, I have so many questions. What caused the O'Brien household to spiral so completely out of control that it ended in the death of their son. Even without firsthand experience, most people, yeah, can understand how overwhelming it must be to care for a nonverbal child with autism and significant needs, significant sensory needs. But even in situations like that, you would expect families to reach out for help if they

were struggling to the point where basic care and home conditions were becoming unmanageable. This is part of what makes this case so difficult to process for me. As many of you online have pointed out, this does not appear to be a situation where resources were unavailable. The question is why those resources, for whatever reason, were not used. And out of curiosity, I did look into autism services in the Flint, Michigan area. and I found multiple specialists and resource centers that probably could have provided support. Again, I don't know. I'm just looking online. I'm not there. But instead of seeking that kind of help investigators say that Casper remained in the home, his condition worsening over time until his body

could no longer sustain it. What makes it even harder to understand is that neighbors have since come forward saying that, yeah, yeah, at least at one point the family seemed to be doing okay. One neighbor said, quote, they were very, very quiet people, and they seemed to love their kids. I didn't get any feeling that something was wrong other than the family was kind of overweight. I don't think anything was deliberate neglect, end quote. That's the same neighbor, by the way, who recalled seeing the children playing outside. They also said that, quote, I kind of wondered if they themselves were bullied as children, or maybe their parents didn't believe in doctors, or that they never went, end quote. But of course, we heard Jesse say that she went frequently,

and they believed in their dog going to the doctor. But it raises a lot of questions. Was there a fear of doctors, a distrust of the medical system, or did something change after the loss of their son, Phoenix at birth? That's what I am really focused on there, is that was quite a a moment, I think. Again, also the pandemic, a very difficult time for resources. We don't know, again, these answers, but it is worth noting, again, 2020, turning point for a lot of families. Major trauma can trigger long-term mental health issues that gradually worsen over time. And then in cases like hoarding disorders, specifically, it's not always about being messy or lazy. That's not what hoarding is. It is often tied to depression. It's tied to anxiety. It's tied to grief. It's tied to

obsessive compulsive traits. It's tied to unresolved trauma. I've also looked into cases discussed on shows like Buried Alive. And one theme that comes up repeatedly is that after a major loss, some people do begin forming emotional attachments to objects. They develop the sort of like intense fear of discarding anything, including trash, and become so mentally overwhelmed that even basic tasks like cleaning, organizing, scheduling medical appointments, it starts to feel impossible. I mean, look, we're all intrigued by hoarding, right? There's a reason why there are TV shows about this. But it does.

It starts with trauma. It starts with something happening, and it ties around emotions, anxiety, grief, depression. Over time, it can kind of snowball. into living conditions that become unsafe, clearly, and unmanageable. None of that excuses what happened here. I am giving no excuses to these parents for not simply taking Casper to a doctor when they were very capable of taking their dog.

No excuses. No excuses. And I am not excusing the condition that these children were living in either, because they could have asked for help. According to reports, Ileana, though, is now in foster care and is said to be doing well, the once feral child, their words, not mine. But her life, obviously, has still been permanently changed by everything that has happened. And happened since birth, right?

The moment she's born, her parents are grieving the loss of her twin brother. The moment she's born. I can't imagine the trauma in what she has. been dealt with in her short life. I hope she's doing well because she and Casper both deserved a safe and clean home. They deserved consistent medical care and adults who are able to meet their basic needs and if not find adults who could. And if those needs felt overwhelming, outside intervention, support, those were necessarily long before things reached this point. Regardless, this is just honestly a sad situation, a situation that makes me very angry.

And while there are a lot of people who think the charges are appropriate, there are some people, like their defense attorney, that may think that charging Jesse and Damien with murder and torture is overkill. But as the prosecutor put it, he said, on the face of it, this is cruel and extreme suffering from this child caused by the neglect of the parents. this case is important because a child's life was taken. And we're going to do our job in the courtroom. And with that, we're left with the biggest question of all. How did it get here? I want to know. I want to learn more.

Did Jesse and Damien intentionally keep their children out of school and away from doctors to avoid being reported? That's another question I have that makes it extra suspicious. Why keep them out of school? Especially if they needed help. That's the easiest way to get help. Send them to public school. Let the teacher deal with it.

Or did things gradually deteriorate until they were no longer able to regain control? Why didn't they utilize the resources that were available? And what really caused this family's life to unravel in the first place? We're going to continue covering this story. I think there is a lot that is hidden here. There's a lot to understand. And may justice be served for Casper O'Brien.