The United States has announced a $25,000 reward for any information that leads to the capture of Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, a Nigerian fugitive facing charges for the alleged murder of his own son.
Olawusi, a 48-year-old resident of Rhode Island, is accused of inflicting severe injuries on his three-month-old child, leading to the infant’s death.
Authorities have now placed him on the U.S. Marshals Service’s “15 Most Wanted” list, and are offering the substantial reward for tips that lead to his arrest.
According to a statement from Don Freeman, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, Olawusi faces two serious charges: first-degree murder for causing “bodily injury to a child” and “unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.”
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The tragic incident unfolded on April 3, 2017, when emergency responders discovered the severely injured child. Despite efforts to save him, medical staff later confirmed that the infant had suffered injuries to 18 different parts of his body. Olawusi was arrested shortly thereafter, but after being arraigned on April 20, 2017, he was released while awaiting trial.
He subsequently disappeared and has been a fugitive ever since.
The U.S. Marshals Service is now intensifying its search for Olawusi, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Anyone with information is urged to come forward, with the potential for a reward of up to $25,000 for details leading to his apprehension.
