A 36-year-old Nigerian immigrant, Gbemisola Akayinode, is facing a felony murder charge in Texas after allegedly leaving her 9-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi, to die from extreme heat inside a parked car while she was at work.
According to court records, the heartbreaking incident occurred on July 1, 2025, in Galena Park, a suburb of Houston. Akayinode reportedly drove to her job at the USG Corporation mineral plant and left her daughter inside the vehicle for more than eight hours while temperatures outside soared to 95°F (35°C).
When emergency responders arrived, the child’s body temperature had reached 108°F, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide caused by hyperthermia.
Investigations revealed that Akayinode had previously left her daughter in the car on multiple occasions, including the night before the tragedy. Prosecutors said she provided the girl with water, melatonin, and a small fan, but admitted she never checked on her during her entire shift.
Authorities also discovered that Akayinode had placed a sunshade over the windshield, possibly to conceal the child from view.
“The child was left unattended in the vehicle for several hours in extreme heat,” the Harris County Sheriff’s Office stated. “It’s a heartbreaking and preventable loss.”
Akayinode was arrested on October 17 after a months-long investigation and booked into the Harris County Jail. Her initial $1 million bond was later reduced to $500,000. If convicted of felony murder, she faces life imprisonment under Texas law.
Officials have since renewed warnings to parents about the dangers of leaving children in vehicles, noting that car interiors can reach deadly temperatures within minutes.
Hot-car fatalities remain a recurring issue in the United States, claiming the lives of dozens of children every year. Experts say such incidents are often linked to neglect, exhaustion, or mental stress among caregivers.
Authorities say the case is still under investigation as prosecutors prepare for trial.
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