A devastating incident in Galena Park, Texas, has sparked outrage and heartbreak after a U.S.-based Nigerian woman, Gbemisola Akayinode (36), was arrested and charged with murder following the death of her 9-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode.
On July 1, 2025, authorities say Akayinode left her daughter inside a parked car while she worked at a nearby manufacturing plant.
The temperature that day reportedly exceeded 90°F (32°C).
When she returned hours later, the child was found unresponsive and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office ruled the case a homicide caused by hyperthermia (heatstroke).
Akayinode told investigators she left water, snacks, and a fan for her daughter in the vehicle — but police say she never checked on the child during her entire shift.
According to reports, Akayinode claimed she couldn’t afford daycare until her next paycheck.
However, investigators revealed that her supervisor had been paying for her daughter’s daycare prior to the tragedy — raising more questions about her decision to leave the child in the car that day.
Akayinode has been charged with felony murder, and prosecutors are reviewing whether to add further charges such as child endangerment.
Her bond status remains unclear as of the latest reports.
The case has reignited conversations around child safety, parental stress, and hot-car deaths, which have claimed dozens of young lives across the U.S. this year alone.
Read the full report on ABC News