The United States has announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Nigerian national Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, 48, who is wanted in connection with the alleged murder of his infant son in 2017.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Olawusi was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of serious bodily injury to a child after emergency responders in Providence discovered his 3-month-old son with severe injuries at a residence on April 3, 2017. The child was found in cardiac arrest, requiring resuscitation, and an examination revealed 18 injuries in various stages of healing, consistent with prolonged abuse. The injuries included a skull fracture, subdural hematoma, severe brain trauma, and fractures in multiple bones. Tragically, the child passed away six months later.
Olawusi was initially arrested on April 20, 2017, on first-degree child abuse charges but was released the same day and subsequently fled. Following the infant’s death on October 31, 2017, the charges were upgraded to murder. Investigations revealed that Olawusi left the U.S. on June 20, 2017, via John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, traveling on his Nigerian passport.
In a statement, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Don Freeman confirmed that Olawusi has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service’s 15 Most Wanted fugitives list. “A man wanted in Rhode Island on charges of murder, inflicting serious bodily injury to a child, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted fugitives list, with up to a $25,000 reward offered for information leading to his arrest,†Freeman said.
Freeman added, “Olawusi is wanted for the abuse and murder of an innocent child and has fled the country to avoid justice. We have placed Mr Olawusi on our 15 Most Wanted list due to the heinous crimes he’s committed and the threat he continues to pose to the public. The U.S. Marshals will exhaust all resources necessary to bring him to justice for his family and the community.”
Olawusi, also known as Olekun Olawusi, is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 185 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 (926-8332) or submit tips via the USMS Tips App.
