Texas Mother Gbemisola Akayinode Charged with Felony Murder in Hot Car Death of 9-Year-Old Daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode [VIDEO]

A heartbreaking tragedy has unfolded in Texas, where 36-year-old mother, Gbemisola Akayinode, has been charged with felony murder following the death of her 9-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, who was left inside a hot car for several hours while her mother worked a full shift.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the incident occurred on July 1, when Akayinode arrived at her workplace — a manufacturing plant in Galena Park — around 6 a.m. with her daughter in the back seat of her Toyota Camry. She reportedly left the child inside the vehicle with some water and the windows partially down, before drawing up the sunshades so that no one could see inside.

Authorities say Akayinode returned to the car at about 2 p.m., after finishing her shift, and discovered Oluwasikemi unresponsive. Emergency responders attempted CPR, and the child was transported to Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, where she was pronounced dead from hyperthermia.

Texas Mother Gbemisola Akayinode Charged with Felony Murder in Hot Car Death of 9-Year-Old Daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode

The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, and Akayinode was arrested on October 17 and booked into the Harris County Jail.

Temperatures in the Houston area reached 96°F that day, and experts estimate the temperature inside the vehicle could have climbed to 164°F.

Dr. Anthony Arredondo of Texas Children’s Hospital explained, “Once body core temperature exceeds 104°F, it can cause severe damage to the brain and organs — the longer they remain inside, the more dangerous it becomes.”

Data from the Kids and Car Safety National Database reveals that Texas leads the nation in child hot car deaths, with 160 fatalities since 1990, far surpassing Florida’s 122 cases.

Authorities continue to investigate whether Akayinode had previously brought her child to work and if she had access to childcare alternatives in her community.