A 36-year-old Nigerian woman, Gbemisola Akayinode, has been arrested and charged with murder after her nine-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, was found dead inside a hot car in Galena Park, Texas.
According to U.S. police reports, the tragedy occurred on July 1, 2025, when Akayinode allegedly left her daughter in the back seat of her car for several hours while she worked a shift at an industrial company on Mayo Shell Road.
Investigators said the child was found unresponsive with a body temperature of 108°F, and was later pronounced dead from hyperthermia.
Court documents revealed that Akayinode had left the child in the car “about four times” in the past, claiming she could not afford daycare. Detectives, however, said a coworker admitted to helping her financially with childcare costs.
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Police disclosed that the mother left the windows halfway open, placed ice cubes, water, and a small fan inside the car, and even gave the child melatonin to sleep. Temperatures outside that day soared above 90°F, turning the vehicle into an oven-like trap.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office charged Akayinode with murder, and a court has set her bond at $1 million. The case has sparked renewed debate about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, a recurring problem across the United States.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing as the suspect remains in custody pending further court proceedings.
