Mother charged with murder after 9-year-old girl dies after being left in hot car in Galena Park
The mother of a child who died in July after being found in an extremely hot car has now been charged with murder, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The mother of a child who died in July after being found in an extremely hot car has now been charged with murder, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
HCSO Homicide Detectives and Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) arrested 36-year-old Gbemisola G. Akayinode for the murder of her 9-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode.
- ORIGINAL STORY: 9-year-old girl dies after being left in hot car by mother during work shift near Galena Park
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled the death a homicide, as a result of hyperthermia.
What happened
On July 1, 2025, police responded to the incident at 2:06 p.m. at the USG Corporation industrial complex, located in the 1200 block of Mayo Shell Road in the Galena Park area.
Officers reportedly arrived at the scene at 2:18 p.m.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the child was rushed to Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital but was later pronounced dead.
The girl was reportedly left unattended in the hot vehicle by her mother while she went to work for the day. Gbemisola reportedly left Oluwasikemi with water, and the car’s windows were rolled down, partially.
Gbemisola’s shift was believed to have started at 6 a.m., with outdoor temperatures reaching as high as 97 degrees that day.
After returning to the car in the afternoon, Gbemisola said she found her daughter unresponsive.
Gbemisola has been booked into the Harris County Jail
