AUSTIN, Texas — A University of Texas student has been arrested as police investigate the cause of his mother’s death at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Downtown Austin.
Austin Police Department officers responded to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites at 4:44 a.m. on Wednesday after the caller reported they heard screaming in one of the rooms. Upon arrival at the room in question, police forced entry and found the victim lying face down on the floor with the suspect on her back.
Police then detained the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Eyitoluwa Olayeye. The victim was identified as his mother, 48-year-old Kehinde Olayeye. She was pronounced dead at 6:12 a.m.
Police reported a bloody pillow was found inside the room and the suspect appeared to be singing in a different language. A witness also reported they heard a female running down the hallways around 4:15 a.m. saying “let me in.” He also said he heard what appeared to be a person being dragged past his room.
Eyitoluwa Olayeye was arrested in connection with his mother’s death.
Upon speaking with the victim’s sister, she told police they had flown to Austin from Georgia the night before to visit Eyitoluwa. She said she was staying in a separate room from the pair and was unaware of any disturbance between them before she went to her own room.
Police then learned that Eyitoluwa was released from Dell Seton Medical Hospital on Nov. 5, where he was treated for psychiatric evaluation.
While they were still in Georgia, the suspect’s aunt said she heard him rambling and saying, “I pray that God brings us together.” The suspect’s friends had also told them that he was saying he had found his purpose in life and that, apparently, he had touched someone inappropriately at the library on campus and had been asked to leave.
Eventually, the friends called back to tell them that Eyitoluwa was transported by EMS to the hospital. Prior to boarding their flight, she said a doctor called them to ask if they had a history of mental illness in the family, which she said she was not aware of. Later, the friends called again to say that he had been discharged.
