The father of a nursing student who was stabbed to death has threatened legal action against her landlord after her housemate was charged with her murder.
Londoner Elizabeth Tamilore Odunsi, also known as Tamilore Odunsi, was “brutally murdered” at her apartment in Texas on Saturday, April 26, days before she was meant to graduate from an American university.
Her roommate Chester Lamar Grant was found in a bedroom at the property with at least one stab wound and was taken to hospital in a critical condition, Houston police said.
The 40-year-old was arrested nearly a week later on Friday, May 2, and has been charged with Ms Odunsi's murder.
He currently remains in custody at Harris County Jail in Texas with a bond set at $500,000 (around £375,000).
A magistrate said in a preliminary hearing that the roommates had been involved in a fight over Grant's cat, according to ABC News.
Now, the student’s father John Odunsi has said he would take legal action against the police and her landlord if it emerges US authorities did not prevent her from coming to any harm.
Speaking to the Times from the family home in east London, Mr Odunsi revealed that the police had been to his daughter’s apartment several times beforehand and he believed that the landlord’s checks should have uncovered Grant’s criminal background.
“If there are failings, we will take legal action … I feel failed by the police from what I’ve heard,” he said.
“The landlord should’ve done the necessary checks on the tenant who was staying with my daughter. I don’t know what sort of vetting was done on the roommate, that’s what we’re trying to ascertain, but unfortunately, it won’t bring back my lovely daughter.”
Mr Odunsi had already packed his suitcase in preparation to fly out to Texas for his daughter’s graduation ceremony at Texas Woman’s University before he discovered the news of her death.
Instead, his three children went to the US to liaise with the police while he stayed at home with his wife, who has been left traumatised by the murder.
“We were looking forward to the day, but this is very, very painful. My daughter was very hardworking and was one of the best students. She had been in the US for five years and had no issues, not even a single complaint,” he told the Times. “She wouldn’t hurt a fly. She was always either in school, library or church.
“We packed the suitcases and everything, and now the excitement has evaporated. We don’t know how to get over it. My wife is traumatised. She can’t sleep. She wakes up in the middle of the night to cry.
“She was killed inside her home. She wasn’t killed in a nightclub or a driving accident. You normally feel safe at home, so for her to lose her life there is unbelievable.”
Mr Odunsi said that his daughter and Grant initially had a “perfect” relationship as flatmates who shared a living room and kitchen but “suddenly, I don’t know how they fell apart”.
Ms Odunsi’s family have been left heartbroken by “the unimaginable loss” and is trying to raise money for her body to be repatriated to the UK, as well as trying to cover funeral and burial costs.
Paying tribute to a “beloved sister, daughter, and friend” on a GoFundMe page her sister Georgina Odunsi described the student as “a beautiful soul, full of light, ambition, and kindness”.
“Tragically, Tami was brutally murdered just days before she was set to graduate from university—an unimaginable loss at a moment that should have marked the beginning of a bright and promising future,” the post said.
“A devoted Christian, she was a God-fearing young woman who found strength and joy in her faith.
“She had a deep love for her church community, where she was actively involved and always eager to serve others with humility and grace.”
Ms Odunsi had moved from the UK to the US to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, the post explained.
The Londoner had over 30,000 followers and would regularly post about her experiences as a Brit living in Houston, Texas.
The 23-year-old “had a special love for children and always dreamed of making a difference in young lives through her future work in healthcare,” her sister added.
“Outside of her studies, she brought joy to others through her love for creating content and expressing her vibrant personality.”
Her family are now trying to help her have “the peaceful and dignified farewell she deserves” by returning her to the UK so she can be buried surrounded by her relatives and loved ones.
Houston Police were first called to the apartment block for a “welfare check” at around 3.50pm on Saturday.
HPD Homicide Division Detectives H. Martinez and S. Chettry said that officers knocked on the door but did not receive an answer.
Officers then discovered blood on the rear concrete patio and entered the apartment.
Ms Odunsi was discovered on the kitchen floor with multiple stab wounds.
The 23-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
So far, over £68,000 has been raised in memory of Ms Odunsi.