- The United States Marshals Service has placed Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, a Nigerian fugitive, on its 15 Most Wanted list
- Olawusi fled the United States from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, after being charged for murder
- US Marshals issued a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of Olalekan Olawusi
The United States Marshals Service has added a Nigerian man to its 15 Most Wanted list, with Rhode Island authorities seeking his capture on charges of murder, and offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his arrest.
According to a report from the US Marshals Service, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, 48, was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of causing serious bodily injury to a child after his 3-month-old son was found severely injured by emergency personnel at a Providence residence on April 3, 2017.
Olawusi wanted for alleged abuse and murder of a child
“Mr 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 USMS will exhaust all resources necessary to bring him to justice for his family and the community,” the US Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis stated.
The child was transported to the hospital in a state of cardiac arrest and had to undergo resuscitation to recover a pulse. Medical examination later showed 18 injuries at different stages of healing, the child passed away six months later.
US marshals search for Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi
Olawusi was initially arrested by Providence Police on April 20, 2017, for first-degree child abuse. He was released that same day but later fled. After the child passed away on October 31, 2017, the charge was upgraded to murder.
In November 2017, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) was called upon by the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office to assist in locating Olawusi.
It was discovered through investigations that Olawusi fled the United States on June 20, 2017, from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, using his Nigerian passport.
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