In a tragic case dating back to 2017, the United States has placed a $25,000 bounty on Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, a Nigerian man wanted for allegedly killing his infant son. After fleeing the country years ago, Olawusi remains at large, and the U.S. Marshals Service has added him to its “15 Most Wanted” list.
The story began on April 3, 2017, when emergency workers responded to a distress call in Providence, Rhode Island. They found Olawusi’s 3-month-old son seriously injured, bleeding from his mouth and nose. The child was in cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital, where he had to be resuscitated. Medical examinations revealed shocking signs of ongoing abuse, with 18 different injuries in various stages of healing. These injuries included a skull fracture, brain damage, and fractures to his ribs, clavicle, legs, and arms. Despite the medical team’s best efforts, the baby died six months later from his severe injuries.
Initially, Providence police charged Olawusi with first-degree child abuse. He was arrested on April 20, 2017, but was released the same day and soon fled. Following the child’s death in October 2017, the charges against Olawusi were escalated to murder. Investigators found that he had flown out of the United States from New York’s JFK Airport, using his Nigerian passport, in June 2017.
In November of that year, the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) for help in locating Olawusi. Since then, the USMS has been actively pursuing his capture and recently increased the reward for information that could lead to his arrest to $25,000.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Don Freeman highlighted the urgency of bringing Olawusi to justice, describing him as a man who inflicted severe harm on a defenseless child. He emphasized that the U.S. Marshals are determined to exhaust every possible resource to ensure Olawusi faces trial and accountability.
Olawusi, who is also known by the alias Olekun Olawusi, is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing about 185 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Authorities urge anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the U.S. Marshals by calling 1-877-WANTED2 (926-8332) or through the USMS Tips App.
This case remains a painful reminder of the need for justice for the most vulnerable, and the U.S. Marshals are committed to ensuring that Olawusi cannot escape accountability for the harm he is alleged to have caused.
