A 36-year-old Nigerian mother, Gbemisola Akayinode, has been charged with murder in Texas, United States, following the death of her nine-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, who was left in a hot car for more than eight hours.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Gbemisola was arrested on Friday after the county medical examiner ruled the case a homicide caused by hyperthermia, or heat stroke.

Oluwasikemi died on July 1, 2025, after being left inside a parked vehicle during extreme summer heat of about 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). Her mother was reportedly working a shift at a manufacturing plant in Galena Park, near Houston.

Court documents show that Gbemisola arrived at work around 5:45 a.m. and left her daughter in the car with food, water, ice cubes, a rechargeable fan, and the rear windows slightly lowered. She also gave her melatonin and saw her fall asleep in the back seat.

She did not return to check on her until her shift ended at 1:53 p.m. When she did, Oluwasikemi was unresponsive. Emergency responders pronounced the child dead shortly after arriving at the scene.

Investigators said Gbemisola had previously taken her daughter to work several times, claiming she could not afford childcare. However, the plant foreman was reportedly covering those costs, contradicting her statement.

Authorities waited for the autopsy results before filing charges. The medical examiner’s report confirmed that Oluwasikemi’s death was caused by hyperthermia. (Tribune)