Roommate Rage: Chester Lamar Grant Accused of Stabbing Nursing Student Tamilore Odunsi to Death Days Before Graduation in Cat Dispute Tragedy
A Dream That Ended in Tragedy
Tamilore, affectionately known as “Tami” by friends and family, had moved to the United States from the United Kingdom to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She was enrolled in a Texas nursing program and had been actively sharing her journey on TikTok, where she connected with thousands of followers. In her final posts, Tamilore expressed excitement about graduating, using the hashtag “#nursinggraduate” and joyfully counting down the days.
But on April 26, 2025, her dreams came to an abrupt end.
That morning, police conducted a welfare check at Tamilore’s apartment after a family friend raised concerns over not being able to reach her. When officers arrived at the residence, they found Tamilore dead in the kitchen, having sustained multiple stab wounds. Grant was located in a separate room with what police believe were self-inflicted injuries to his neck. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
A Dispute Over Pets Turns Fatal
According to investigators, Tamilore and Grant had clashed in the days leading up to the fatal incident. The point of contention? Their cats. Police allege that a disagreement over caring for the pets escalated into a violent altercation.
Though the exact timeline is still under investigation, authorities believe that the dispute culminated in the deadly stabbing. Grant reportedly attempted to take his own life after the attack, but survived and was later taken into custody.
Legal Action and Investigation
Chester Lamar Grant has since been formally charged with murder. He is scheduled to appear in court next week. Authorities have not disclosed whether he has obtained legal representation.
The investigation remains ongoing, but police have confirmed that no other individuals were involved. They are now working to piece together the details that led to the attack and are reviewing social media, text messages, and apartment surveillance footage.
Mourning a Life Lost Too Soon
Tamilore’s death has sent shockwaves through the nursing and international student communities. Friends describe her as a compassionate, driven young woman who was deeply committed to helping others. “She always dreamed of making a difference,” one of her classmates said. “She didn’t deserve this.”
A GoFundMe campaign launched to help repatriate her body to the UK and assist her grieving family with funeral expenses has raised tens of thousands of dollars. Hundreds of supporters have left messages mourning her loss and expressing outrage over the circumstances of her death.
A Community in Grief
As Houston police continue to investigate, Tamilore Odunsi is being remembered not only as a bright student with a compassionate heart, but as a young woman whose future was stolen far too soon.
“She was just days away from walking across that graduation stage,” a family spokesperson said. “Now, we’re planning a funeral instead.”
Anyone with further information about the case is encouraged to contact the Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division.