On July 1, the morning sun was just starting its rise over the industrial lot on Mayo Shell Road in Galena Park when 36-year-old Gbemisola Akayinode pulled into work at a mineral plant. In the back seat of her Toyota Camry sat her nine-year-old daughter, Oluwasikemi Akayinode, alive—but for how long? With a weakened sunshade at the windshield, the windows partially down, and some water by her side, the little girl was left alone inside a locked vehicle with the midsummer heat closing in.
For eight long hours, investigators say Gbemisola left Oluwasikemi alone while she worked her shift. It wasn’t until about 2 p.m.—when she returned to the car—that she discovered her daughter unresponsive, immediately calling for emergency help. Paramedics attempted CPR, but the child was later declared dead at a local hospital.
In the days that followed, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science ruled the cause of death to be hyperthermia—the body overheating to the point of irreversible organ and brain damage. Her death was officially categorized as a homicide.
The temperature that day climbed well into the 90s outside, and researchers say that inside a parked car under such conditions one could easily reach 160 °F (about 71 °C) within an hour. Minutes matter—and freezing the back seat with just water and half‐open windows proved tragically insufficient.
On October 17, after months of investigation, Gbemisola was arrested and charged with felony murder in connection with her daughter’s death. As of the latest reports, she remains in custody in the Harris County Jail; bond status has not been publicly shared.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Galena Park community. Local officials, including Ed Gonzalez of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, called the incident “deeply distressing”—a heart-breaking example of how a split‐second decision can lead to unfathomable loss.
While the criminal justice process now takes over, one clear message resonates for every parent and caregiver: the inside of a car can reach deadly temperatures in a matter of minutes. No matter how brief the errand or how small the child appears in the back seat, the risk is real—and unforgiving.
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