Nigerian Woman Arrested in Texas After Daughter Dies in Hot Car
A 36-year-old Nigerian woman, Gbemisola Akayinode, has been arrested and charged with felony murder in Texas after her 9-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, died of hyperthermia—a severe form of heatstroke—after being left inside a car for several hours.
Sheriff Confirms Homicide in Child’s Death
The Harris County Sheriff, Ed Gonzalez, confirmed Akayinode’s arrest on October 17 via X (formerly Twitter). He stated that the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled the child’s death a homicide caused by hyperthermia.
“Arrest update: today, #HCSOTexas Homicide Detectives and our Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) arrested Gbemisola G. Akayinode for the murder of her nine-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode,” Gonzalez posted.
“The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled the death a Homicide, as a result of hyperthermia. Gbemisola (11-17-88) is being charged with Felony Murder and booked in the Harris County Jail.”
Child Left Alone in Car for Over Eight Hours
According to court documents cited by ABC News, the tragedy occurred on July 1 at an industrial complex on Mayo Shell Road in Galena Park, near Houston.
Investigators revealed that Akayinode arrived at work around 5:45 a.m., leaving her daughter in the vehicle with food, water, a rechargeable fan, ice cubes, and melatonin to help her sleep. She also rolled down the back windows halfway before heading to work at a nearby manufacturing plant.
When she returned to the car at about 1:53 p.m., after completing her shift, she found her daughter unresponsive and blue. She reportedly screamed for help as bystanders called emergency services.
Efforts to Save Oluwasikemi Failed
Emergency responders performed CPR before transporting the child to Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The medical examiner’s office confirmed that she died from hyperthermia, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Court Documents Reveal Troubling Details
Court filings obtained by KHOU11 and The Daily Mail disclosed that Akayinode told investigators she had taken her daughter to work several times before, including the day prior to her death, because she couldn’t afford daycare until her next paycheck.
However, investigators discovered that her foreman had been paying for her daycare—contradicting her claim.
The documents also revealed that she gave her daughter melatonin the night before and again on the morning of the incident to help her sleep while in the car. Akayinode allegedly blamed the death on ADHD medication, but investigators concluded that her negligence directly led to the tragedy.
Authorities further noted that she had left a shade up in the car’s front window, which made it difficult for passersby to see the child trapped inside.
Series of Hot Car Deaths in Texas
Oluwasikemi’s death was one of four child fatalities involving hot cars in Texas within the first two weeks of July.
In September, another Texas mother claimed her two children died in a hot car after they wandered out of the house while she slept. In a separate August case, a mother was charged after intentionally leaving her 15-month-old baby in a hot vehicle while she went to work.
Growing Concern Over Hot Car Deaths
Authorities and child safety advocates continue to warn parents about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially during the Texas summer when temperatures often exceed 99°F (37°C).
Even with windows partially open, the interior of a car can reach deadly temperatures in less than an hour.
