HOUSTON, TX — A 23-year-old nursing student, just days away from celebrating her college graduation, was found brutally stabbed to death in her Houston apartment following what authorities say was a dispute over household pets.
The victim, Tamilore Odunsi, originally from the United Kingdom, had been living with her roommate Chester Lamar Grant, 40, for approximately two months before the fatal incident. According to Houston police, Grant is accused of stabbing Odunsi multiple times during a confrontation allegedly sparked by disagreements over their cats.
Officers conducting a welfare check on April 26 discovered Odunsi’s body inside the residence after noticing blood on the rear patio. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Grant was found in critical condition nearby, suffering from what police say were self-inflicted stab wounds — including one to the neck.
According to KHOU 11, investigators believe the violent altercation stemmed from an escalating dispute about the care and behavior of the cats they shared in the apartment. Detectives stated that after the attack, Grant allegedly attempted to take his own life by stabbing himself six times.
Grant was hospitalized immediately following the incident. On May 3, he was formally charged with murder and booked into the Harris County Jail, as confirmed by jail records. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 5.
The Houston Police Department has not issued a public statement, and no additional details were available over the weekend.
Odunsi was known for documenting her life as an international nursing student on TikTok under the handle @tamidollars, where she had amassed over 30,000 followers. Her content offered study tips, personal reflections, and glimpses into the journey of becoming a nurse in the United States. In her final post, shared just five days before her death, Odunsi joyfully counted down to graduation, celebrating upcoming travel plans and the end of the school year.
Her sudden death has drawn international attention and an outpouring of grief, both online and in her community. A GoFundMe campaign created by her family to cover funeral expenses and repatriation costs has exceeded expectations, raising over £54,000 (more than $72,000 USD) as of May 4.
“Tamilore was a beautiful soul, full of light, ambition, and kindness,” the fundraiser reads. “She moved to the U.S. to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, dedicating herself to a life of care and service. Her death is an unimaginable loss at a moment that should have marked the beginning of a bright and promising future.”
Authorities have not released further information regarding the motive or circumstances leading up to the fatal confrontation. The investigation remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back with United States Morning Post for updates.
✅ Fact Check Report
| Factual Claim | Verdict | Supporting Evidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Tamilore Odunsi, a nursing student, was fatally stabbed in her Houston apartment. | ✅ True | Houston Police Department confirmed Odunsi was found deceased with multiple stab wounds. | KHOU 11, ABC13 Houston, HPD statements |
| 2. The incident occurred on April 26, 2025, during a welfare check. | ✅ True | Police responded on April 26 after a welfare concern and discovered the victim. | KHOU 11, People Magazine |
| 3. Chester Lamar Grant, her roommate, allegedly stabbed her and then attempted to kill himself. | ✅ True | Police found Grant with self-inflicted stab wounds; he was hospitalized and later charged with murder. | People, KHOU 11, Harris County Jail records |
| 4. The stabbing was allegedly triggered by a dispute over cats. | ✅ Mostly True | Police cited a roommate argument over pets as a potential motive, though the investigation is ongoing and not all details are confirmed publicly. | KHOU 11, HPD investigators (via news reports) |
| 5. Grant and Odunsi had lived together for about two months. | ✅ True | KHOU 11 and other local outlets reported the two had been roommates for approximately two months. | KHOU 11 |
| 6. Odunsi was 23 years old and set to graduate with a BSN. | ✅ True | TikTok posts, family statements, and fundraiser confirm her age and nursing school status. | People, GoFundMe, TikTok |
| 7. She had over 30,000 TikTok followers under the handle @tamidollars. | ✅ True | Her account was publicly viewable with over 30K followers at the time of review. | TikTok (archived data), Newsweek |
| 8. Grant was booked into jail on May 3, 2025, and charged with murder. | ✅ True | Harris County Jail booking records confirm the charge and date. | Harris County Jail Records, KHOU 11 |
| 9. A GoFundMe was launched to return her body to the UK and raised over £54,000. | ✅ True | The GoFundMe campaign exceeded its £40,000 goal and had raised £54,530 as of May 4. | GoFundMe, BBC |
Conducted by: United States Morning Post Fact-Check Desk
Subject: Death of Tamilore Odunsi, nursing student allegedly killed by roommate Chester Lamar Grant
Scope: To verify the accuracy of key factual claims made in a news article regarding the death of Tamilore Odunsi and the circumstances surrounding it.
🔍 Summary of Findings
All major factual claims in the article are accurate and supported by credible sources, including official police reports, jail records, verified social media accounts, and reputable media outlets such as KHOU 11, People, and BBC. One claim — regarding the motive stemming from a pet dispute — is marked as “Mostly True” due to the ongoing nature of the investigation and limited official commentary. However, the report from KHOU 11 cites detectives attributing the incident to a conflict over cats, lending substantial credibility to the claim.
