logo
Male roommate charged with murder of British student nurse stabbed in Texas

Male roommate charged with murder of British student nurse stabbed in Texas

ITV News06-05-2025
The roommate of a British student nurse from London who was stabbed to death in Texas, just days before her graduation, has been charged with her murder.
Elizabeth Odunsi, known to her friends and family as Tamilore Odunsi, was found dead with multiple stab wounds on the kitchen floor of a property at around 3.50pm on April 26, Houston Police said.
Chester Lamar Grant, 40, was arrested on Friday and charged with her murder after being taken to hospital in a critical condition following the incident on Goforth Street in Houston, police said.
Detectives were called to a property above an apartment complex for a welfare check but received no response when they knocked, police said.
Upon entering, they found Odunsi's body, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, along with a man in a bedroom who had at least one stab wound.
The 23-year-old British-Nigerian, known as Tami Dollars on TikTok, had gained more than 45,000 followers with her studying tips and regular vlogs.
A GoFundMe page has been created to bring Odunsi's body back to the UK from the US, "to give her the peaceful and dignified farewell she deserves," following her death, just days before she was set to graduate from university".
As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser has raised more than £64,000.
The page's description read: 'With heavy hearts, we share the devastating loss of our beloved sister, daughter, and friend, Tamilore Odunsi—known to her TikTok family as Tami Dollars or TD.
'Tami was a beautiful soul, full of light, ambition, and kindness. She was just 23 years old.
'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.'
The page said Odunsi had travelled to the US to 'pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, dedicating herself to a life of care and service.'
It continued: 'Tami had a special love for children and always dreamed of making a difference in young lives through her future work in healthcare.
'Outside of her studies, she brought joy to others through her love for creating content and expressing her vibrant personality.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hollyoaks star calls on late mother's friends not to attend stepfather's funeral
Hollyoaks star calls on late mother's friends not to attend stepfather's funeral

South Wales Guardian

timean hour ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Hollyoaks star calls on late mother's friends not to attend stepfather's funeral

Andrew Searle and Dawn Kerr, who were both aged in their 60s, were found dead in their home in the south of France in the early afternoon of February 6. Mrs Kerr was found lying dead in front of her house partly undressed and with a significant head injury while Mr Searle was found hanged inside the property, which is in the hamlet of Les Pesquies in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron. Police launched an investigation to establish whether the couple died as a result of a murder-suicide, or if a third party was involved. Prosecutor Fabrice Belargent previously said that 'the analysis carried out does not so far show any evidence that a third party was involved'. In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday Mr Kerr said it would be 'inappropriate' for his mother's memory to be 'associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death'. He called on the funeral arrangements for the pair to be kept separate and for photographs showing the couple together not to be shared. The full statement, which is signed by Kerr and his sister Amanda Kerr, reads: 'In the absence of any evidence suggesting third-party involvement in the tragic death of our mother, Dawn Kerr, the prevailing hypothesis remains that of a murder-suicide. A post shared by Callum Kerr (@callum_kerr_1) 'Our mother was killed by multiple blows to the head, and Andrew was found deceased by hanging. 'His injuries are consistent with self-hanging, and no defensive wounds were found on his body. 'There is also no evidence of any third-party's involvement at this stage. 'While the official investigation is still ongoing, we cannot ignore the circumstances as they stand. 'For this reason, we must respectfully but firmly request that our mother not be included in any way in the funeral arrangements being made for Andrew. 'Please do not share photographs of them together. 'Please do not attend Andrew's service if you were a friend of our mother. 'It would be inappropriate for her memory to be associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death. 'We ask for understanding, privacy and respect as we continue to grieve and seek justice for our mum.' Callum Kerr played Pc George Kiss in the popular Channel 4 soap opera, and appeared in Netflix's Virgin River. According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Searle was a retired fraud investigator specialising in financial crime prevention who worked at companies including Standard Life and Barclays. A statement issued by French prosecutors in February said: 'The two deceased persons, a man and a woman, were the owners of the house in which their bodies were discovered. 'They were British expatriates, retired, and had been living in Aveyron for five years. 'The first victim, Ms Kerr, has a significant head injury. 'A box containing jewellery was found near to her, but no item or weapon which could have caused the injuries were located. 'Mr Searle, who was found hanged… did not show any visible defensive injuries.'

Hollyoaks star calls on late mother's friends not to attend stepfather's funeral
Hollyoaks star calls on late mother's friends not to attend stepfather's funeral

Leader Live

timean hour ago

  • Leader Live

Hollyoaks star calls on late mother's friends not to attend stepfather's funeral

Andrew Searle and Dawn Kerr, who were both aged in their 60s, were found dead in their home in the south of France in the early afternoon of February 6. Mrs Kerr was found lying dead in front of her house partly undressed and with a significant head injury while Mr Searle was found hanged inside the property, which is in the hamlet of Les Pesquies in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron. Police launched an investigation to establish whether the couple died as a result of a murder-suicide, or if a third party was involved. Prosecutor Fabrice Belargent previously said that 'the analysis carried out does not so far show any evidence that a third party was involved'. In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday Mr Kerr said it would be 'inappropriate' for his mother's memory to be 'associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death'. He called on the funeral arrangements for the pair to be kept separate and for photographs showing the couple together not to be shared. The full statement, which is signed by Kerr and his sister Amanda Kerr, reads: 'In the absence of any evidence suggesting third-party involvement in the tragic death of our mother, Dawn Kerr, the prevailing hypothesis remains that of a murder-suicide. A post shared by Callum Kerr (@callum_kerr_1) 'Our mother was killed by multiple blows to the head, and Andrew was found deceased by hanging. 'His injuries are consistent with self-hanging, and no defensive wounds were found on his body. 'There is also no evidence of any third-party's involvement at this stage. 'While the official investigation is still ongoing, we cannot ignore the circumstances as they stand. 'For this reason, we must respectfully but firmly request that our mother not be included in any way in the funeral arrangements being made for Andrew. 'Please do not share photographs of them together. 'Please do not attend Andrew's service if you were a friend of our mother. 'It would be inappropriate for her memory to be associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death. 'We ask for understanding, privacy and respect as we continue to grieve and seek justice for our mum.' Callum Kerr played Pc George Kiss in the popular Channel 4 soap opera, and appeared in Netflix's Virgin River. According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Searle was a retired fraud investigator specialising in financial crime prevention who worked at companies including Standard Life and Barclays. A statement issued by French prosecutors in February said: 'The two deceased persons, a man and a woman, were the owners of the house in which their bodies were discovered. 'They were British expatriates, retired, and had been living in Aveyron for five years. 'The first victim, Ms Kerr, has a significant head injury. 'A box containing jewellery was found near to her, but no item or weapon which could have caused the injuries were located. 'Mr Searle, who was found hanged… did not show any visible defensive injuries.'

Community rallies around LA teen detained by Ice while walking dog
Community rallies around LA teen detained by Ice while walking dog

The Guardian

timean hour ago

  • The Guardian

Community rallies around LA teen detained by Ice while walking dog

A southern California community is calling for the release of a high school student whom US immigration agents arrested earlier this month while he was walking his dog. Benjamin Marcelo Guerrero-Cruz was supposed to be starting his senior year of high school at Reseda charter high school this month. But just days after his 18th birthday, masked Ice agents detained him as he walking his dog in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Van Nuys in what his family described as a kidnapping. The agents allowed his dog to run loose, and treated Guerrero-Cruz like a criminal and joked while arresting him, his family said in a GoFundMe. 'He is more than just a student – he is a devoted son, a caring brother, a loyal friend, and a valued member of our community,' the family wrote, adding that he helps care for his younger brothers. 'He is a good student, with a kind heart, who has always stepped up for his family.' Educators and advocates held a rally to bring attention to Guerrero-Cruz's detention, demand his release, and call for answers from local officials, such as the Los Angeles unified school district superintendent, about the unmarked vehicle and plainclothes, masked men who took him on the morning of 8 August. 'How can any of us turn a blind eye to cruel, unjust treatment happening right in front of us? Benjamin does matter; his rights matter,' Valerie, one of Guerrero-Cruz's neighbors, who saw the teen in the unmarked truck before he was taken into custody, said during the Tuesday press conference. She told the downtown Los Angeles crowd she was walking her dog when she saw an unmarked SUV and several men who were wearing tactical vests and were either fully or partially masked. They were holding Guerrero-Cruz's dog's leash, but soon after Valerie approached one of the men unclipped the dog's leash and let it run off, she said. Two of Guerrero-Cruz's teachers also spoke at the rally and talked about the 18-year-old's drive and determination to graduate, despite only recently coming to the US. 'One of our own, Benjamin, a child who once sat in our classrooms who dreamed his dreams under our watch, was kidnapped by Ice,' said Claudia Rojas, who taught Guerrero-Cruz shortly after he came to the US. 'This is not just his fight – it's our fight. When one student is taken, all students feel the fear. When we stay silent, we give permission for the next child to disappear,' she said. Another of his former teachers, Liz Becerra, visited Guerrero-Cruz, at an Ice processing center in Adelanto, an hour and a half north of Los Angeles. She told the rally that Guerrero-Cruz relayed a harrowing tale of being surrounded by masked men while walking his dog, handed over to federal agents, and then brought to the metropolitan detention center in downtown Los Angeles. He was not allowed to shower or brush his teeth for a week, Becerra said. Now he is in Adelanto, where he told Becerra he is in a small cell with about two dozen other men with little access to food and water. 'He wants to graduate. He's made it this far based on his will and on his dream, and that's being taken away from him,' Becerra said. 'He's in detention; he should be in a classroom with us.' The arrest comes as Donald Trump's crackdown on immigrants continues to unfold across southern California, where thousands of people have been arrested this summer at workplaces, at stores and near schools. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Los Angeles Unified school district, which has nearly 800 schools across the county, has adopted new strategies to protect students and 'ensure that schools remain safe, supportive spaces for all children and families – regardless of immigration status'. 'Schools are safe spaces,' Alberto M Carvalho, the LAUSD superintendent, said in a statement. 'Immigration enforcement near schools disrupts learning and creates anxiety that can last far beyond the school day.' Carvalho has said he is in communication with Guerrero-Cruz's mother, who has alleged that the boy was being held with dozens of men, receiving water only once a day and insufficient food, in a space that doesn't have enough room for everyone to sit or lie at the same have reported filthy conditions and not having access to clean clothes and towels for days at a time inside the detention facility Guerrero-Cruz is being held. His sudden arrest has sparked outrage in his community. Fellow soccer players said it was 'heartbreaking to see him taken from us like this, and we'll truly miss not just the player, but the person he was'. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Guerrero-Cruz was being detained pending his 'removal' from the US. 'Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz, an illegal alien from Chile, overstayed his visa by more than two years, abusing the visa waiver program under which he entered the United States, which required him to depart the United States on March 15 2023,' the agency said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store