Nursing Student Killed

British Nursing Student and Influencer Fatally Stabbed in Houston Apartment

Elizabeth Tamilore Odunsi

By Ximena Rodríguez-López

Houston, TX – Elizabeth Tamilore Odunsi, a 23-year-old British citizen and nursing student, was found dead in her Houston apartment on April 26, 2025. She had suffered more than two-dozen stab wounds at the hands of her roommate Mr. Lamar Grant over a dispute involving his cat. Her death is now being addressed in the wider context of sex-based violence, which remains a persistent and underreported global crisis.

Odunsi was studying at Texas Woman’s University and was scheduled to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in early May. Originally from London, she had moved to the United States at age 17 to pursue her education. Alongside her academic work, she had built a social media following on TikTok under the name “Tami Dollars,” where she shared content about student life and her path through nursing school.

Officers with the Houston Police Department responded to a welfare check request at her apartment in the 2600 block of Winrock Boulevard. Upon arrival, they observed blood outside and entered the residence. Odunsi was found dead in the kitchen. Her roommate, 40-year-old Chester Lamar Grant, was located in a bedroom with self-inflicted stab wounds.

Grant was charged with murder and remains in custody at Harris County Jail. His bond is set at $500,000. Court records indicate Grant has a documented history of violent offenses in other states, including charges related to domestic abuse and violations of protective orders.

The case has drawn increased scrutiny from the public and women’s safety advocates due to the context of sex-based violence—defined as violence directed at individuals based on their sex or gender, often occurring within domestic or interpersonal settings. According to global health and criminal justice data, women are disproportionately the victims of fatal violence at the hands of men, especially in environments where trust or proximity creates opportunity and vulnerability.

Odunsi’s family has raised concerns about how a man with a criminal background was able to become her roommate. A GoFundMe campaign launched by her family to repatriate her body to the UK and assist with funeral expenses has raised over £64,000 as of this publication.

Texas Woman’s University posthumously conferred her nursing degree during its commencement ceremony. The university acknowledged her academic achievement and future plans to work in pediatric care.

Her killing adds to a growing number of cases highlighting the systemic risks women face due to failures in housing oversight, criminal record enforcement, and the social minimization of threats posed by prior offenders. Advocacy groups emphasize the need for coordinated reforms in housing, law enforcement, and education institutions to protect women from preventable acts of sex-based violence.

To support the Odunsi family’s repatriation and funeral efforts, visit the official fundraiser: GoFundMe: In Memory of Tamilore Odunsi.