Topline: Authorities say the Houston mother told investigators she left her daughter in the car with cracked windows, water, and a fan while she worked her shift.
Published: October 21, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Gbemisola G. Akayinode (via HCSO)
HOUSTON, TX — A Houston mother is facing a felony murder charge after investigators say she left her 9-year-old daughter in a hot car for hours while she worked a full shift, resulting in the child’s death from hyperthermia.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Gbemisola G. Akayinode, 36, was arrested on Friday and booked into the Harris County Jail.
The charge stems from the July 1 death of her daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, whose body was found unresponsive inside a parked vehicle at an industrial facility in the 1200 block of Mayo Shell Road in Galena Park.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined the cause of death was hyperthermia, ruling it a homicide. The child was transported to LBJ Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to reporting from the Houston Chronicle.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated in a post on X that Akayinode admitted to leaving the girl in the car around 6 a.m. with the back windows partially down. Temperatures on the afternoon of July 1 surpassed 90 degrees, according to previous reports by the Chronicle. When Akayinode returned around 2 p.m., her daughter was unresponsive.
In court documents cited by KTRK, Akayinode told investigators she had left her daughter in the car with water, a fan, food, ice cubes, and melatonin to help her sleep. She also reportedly put up a window shade, which authorities believe may have concealed the child from view in the employee parking lot of USG, where she worked.
Akayinode allegedly told detectives she didn’t check on the girl during her eight-hour shift because she was too busy. Upon finding her daughter unresponsive, she screamed for help before emergency services arrived. The girl’s internal temperature was found to be 108 degrees, according to court documents reviewed by KTRK.
KHOU reports that this was not the first time Akayinode had left her daughter in the car during work. She allegedly admitted to investigators that she had done so four times before, including the day prior to the child’s death. She said she couldn’t afford daycare until her paycheck came through. However, court documents revealed a coworker had been helping her financially, aware of her struggles.
When asked by investigators whether she had checked the forecast that day, Akayinode reportedly said she hadn’t—it had slipped her mind, as noted in court filings referenced by KTRK.
This type of case is relatively rare, according to Jan Null, an adjunct professor of meteorology at San Jose State University who specializes in hot car deaths. Speaking with KHOU, Null explained that only about 20% of these deaths involve parents who knowingly leave their children in the car, often under the false belief the child will be fine for a short time.
“The scenario in the case in Galena Park is when the parent knowingly leaves a child in the car. Not to do them harm, but they make the conscious decision to leave the child in the car while they do something else,” Null said. “While I go to work, while I go to the casino, while I meet up with somebody.”
Despite advances in awareness and technology aimed at preventing hot car deaths, Null said the number of annual fatalities has remained relatively unchanged since 1998.
Akayinode made her first court appearance early Sunday morning, according to KTRK. Her bond has been set at $500,000, and she is scheduled to return to court on Monday.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Authorities say the Houston mother told investigators she left her daughter in the car with cracked windows, water, and a fan while she worked her shift.
By Jacob Charles
Published: October 21, 2025 8:00 am ET
Gbemisola G. Akayinode (via HCSO)
HOUSTON, TX — A Houston mother is facing a felony murder charge after investigators say she left her 9-year-old daughter in a hot car for hours while she worked a full shift, resulting in the child’s death from hyperthermia.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Gbemisola G. Akayinode, 36, was arrested on Friday and booked into the Harris County Jail.
The charge stems from the July 1 death of her daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, whose body was found unresponsive inside a parked vehicle at an industrial facility in the 1200 block of Mayo Shell Road in Galena Park.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined the cause of death was hyperthermia, ruling it a homicide. The child was transported to LBJ Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to reporting from the Houston Chronicle.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated in a post on X that Akayinode admitted to leaving the girl in the car around 6 a.m. with the back windows partially down. Temperatures on the afternoon of July 1 surpassed 90 degrees, according to previous reports by the Chronicle. When Akayinode returned around 2 p.m., her daughter was unresponsive.
In court documents cited by KTRK, Akayinode told investigators she had left her daughter in the car with water, a fan, food, ice cubes, and melatonin to help her sleep. She also reportedly put up a window shade, which authorities believe may have concealed the child from view in the employee parking lot of USG, where she worked.
Akayinode allegedly told detectives she didn’t check on the girl during her eight-hour shift because she was too busy. Upon finding her daughter unresponsive, she screamed for help before emergency services arrived. The girl’s internal temperature was found to be 108 degrees, according to court documents reviewed by KTRK.
KHOU reports that this was not the first time Akayinode had left her daughter in the car during work. She allegedly admitted to investigators that she had done so four times before, including the day prior to the child’s death. She said she couldn’t afford daycare until her paycheck came through. However, court documents revealed a coworker had been helping her financially, aware of her struggles.
When asked by investigators whether she had checked the forecast that day, Akayinode reportedly said she hadn’t—it had slipped her mind, as noted in court filings referenced by KTRK.
This type of case is relatively rare, according to Jan Null, an adjunct professor of meteorology at San Jose State University who specializes in hot car deaths. Speaking with KHOU, Null explained that only about 20% of these deaths involve parents who knowingly leave their children in the car, often under the false belief the child will be fine for a short time.
“The scenario in the case in Galena Park is when the parent knowingly leaves a child in the car. Not to do them harm, but they make the conscious decision to leave the child in the car while they do something else,” Null said. “While I go to work, while I go to the casino, while I meet up with somebody.”
Despite advances in awareness and technology aimed at preventing hot car deaths, Null said the number of annual fatalities has remained relatively unchanged since 1998.
Akayinode made her first court appearance early Sunday morning, according to KTRK. Her bond has been set at $500,000, and she is scheduled to return to court on Monday.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
9-Year-Old Girl Dies After Being Left in Hot Car for 8 Hours While Mother Worked
Authorities say the Houston mother told investigators she left her daughter in the car with cracked windows, water, and a fan while she worked her shift.
By Jacob Charles
Published: October 21, 2025 8:00 am ET
Gbemisola G. Akayinode (via HCSO)
HOUSTON, TX — A Houston mother is facing a felony murder charge after investigators say she left her 9-year-old daughter in a hot car for hours while she worked a full shift, resulting in the child’s death from hyperthermia.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Gbemisola G. Akayinode, 36, was arrested on Friday and booked into the Harris County Jail.
The charge stems from the July 1 death of her daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, whose body was found unresponsive inside a parked vehicle at an industrial facility in the 1200 block of Mayo Shell Road in Galena Park.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined the cause of death was hyperthermia, ruling it a homicide. The child was transported to LBJ Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to reporting from the Houston Chronicle.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated in a post on X that Akayinode admitted to leaving the girl in the car around 6 a.m. with the back windows partially down. Temperatures on the afternoon of July 1 surpassed 90 degrees, according to previous reports by the Chronicle. When Akayinode returned around 2 p.m., her daughter was unresponsive.
In court documents cited by KTRK, Akayinode told investigators she had left her daughter in the car with water, a fan, food, ice cubes, and melatonin to help her sleep. She also reportedly put up a window shade, which authorities believe may have concealed the child from view in the employee parking lot of USG, where she worked.
Akayinode allegedly told detectives she didn’t check on the girl during her eight-hour shift because she was too busy. Upon finding her daughter unresponsive, she screamed for help before emergency services arrived. The girl’s internal temperature was found to be 108 degrees, according to court documents reviewed by KTRK.
KHOU reports that this was not the first time Akayinode had left her daughter in the car during work. She allegedly admitted to investigators that she had done so four times before, including the day prior to the child’s death. She said she couldn’t afford daycare until her paycheck came through. However, court documents revealed a coworker had been helping her financially, aware of her struggles.
When asked by investigators whether she had checked the forecast that day, Akayinode reportedly said she hadn’t—it had slipped her mind, as noted in court filings referenced by KTRK.
This type of case is relatively rare, according to Jan Null, an adjunct professor of meteorology at San Jose State University who specializes in hot car deaths. Speaking with KHOU, Null explained that only about 20% of these deaths involve parents who knowingly leave their children in the car, often under the false belief the child will be fine for a short time.
“The scenario in the case in Galena Park is when the parent knowingly leaves a child in the car. Not to do them harm, but they make the conscious decision to leave the child in the car while they do something else,” Null said. “While I go to work, while I go to the casino, while I meet up with somebody.”
Despite advances in awareness and technology aimed at preventing hot car deaths, Null said the number of annual fatalities has remained relatively unchanged since 1998.
Akayinode made her first court appearance early Sunday morning, according to KTRK. Her bond has been set at $500,000, and she is scheduled to return to court on Monday.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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