Nigerian mom arrested for murder after daughter dies in hot car
A 36-year-old woman of Nigerian descent, Gbemisola G. Akayinode, has been arrested and charged with murder in Houston, Texas, after her 9-year-old daughter died inside a parked car in extreme heat. Officials say the death has been ruled a homicide, with hyperthermia (heat stroke) as the cause.
According to authorities, the tragic incident occurred on July 1, 2025, when the mother drove to work at an industrial complex in Galena Park. She reportedly left her daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, in the back seat while she clocked in for an eight-hour shift. Investigators say she left water, ice cubes, a small fan, and partially lowered windows for ventilation. She also gave the child melatonin to aid sleep.
The outside temperature that day reportedly exceeded 97 °F (36 °C). After her work shift ended, the mother says she discovered her daughter unresponsive and immediately called for help. The child was taken to a local hospital, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Court documents reveal Akayinode admitted this was not the first time she left her daughter unattended in the car during work. She claimed day-care was unaffordable at the time. However, investigators noted a coworker had previously offered financial assistance for care, making her decision subject to closer scrutiny.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences found the child’s internal body temperature was 108 °F (42.2 °C). That finding supported the ruling of homicide due to hyperthermia.
Akayinode is now in custody at the Harris County Jail. Her bond has reportedly been set at $500,000. She is expected to make a court appearance soon as the case moves forward.
This case has shocked the community and drawn attention to the dangers of leaving children unattended in hot vehicles. Experts emphasize that temperatures inside a closed car can rise rapidly to life-threatening levels, especially for children whose bodies heat faster than those of adults. The incident underscores the importance of ensuring safe child care alternatives and awareness about vehicular heat risks.
