The aftermath of a young Houston nursing student's death has prompted legal action from the family, who are seeking accountability from the parties they allege could have prevented the incident. As per a report by CW39, 23-year-old Elizabeth Odunsi was found stabbed to death in an off-campus housing complex in Southeast Houston in April. Chester Grant, 40, Odunsi's roommate and the alleged assailant, faces murder charges. Odunsi's family has now filed a lawsuit against not only Grant but also "For A Place To Live," the housing provider, and a tenant screening company responsible for placing him.
The legal team representing the family argues that Odunsi had expressed concerns for her safety and had attempted to duly warn both the housing company and the screening service before the fatal attack. Grant, currently in custody and awaiting a court appearance scheduled for next week, has a history with at least two prior domestic violence convictions in Washington State. According to CW39, this detail raises questions about the thoroughness of the screening process that preceded Grant's placement as Odunsi's roommate.
The family is also calling for justice beyond the legal proceedings, alleging gross negligence by the housing landlord and the background check company, SafeRent Solutions. Furthermore, the victim, known on TikTok as "Tami Dollars," reportedly had a sizeable social media following. "She left us in one of the most painful ways possible: her last words being a cry for help... no one deserves to go out the way she did," Georgina, Tami’s sister, told Click2Houston at a press conference.
At the same event, the family's attorney emphasized how easily Grant’s violent history could have been discovered, "So, it was just that easy for them to find out what happened and what he was doing prior to him moving in with Tami," as reported by Click2Houston. Grant's trial is ongoing, and the Odunsi family's attorneys have committed to represent them throughout the process in Houston.
