In a heartbreaking incident that has garnered international attention, Tamilore Odunsi, a 23-year-old British nursing student studying in Houston, Texas, was fatally stabbed by her roommate, Chester Lamar Grant, on April 26, 2025. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over their cats. Odunsi, known affectionately as “Tami Dollars” on TikTok, had amassed a following of nearly 50,000 by sharing her journey through nursing school and her life as an international student.
Originally from London, Odunsi moved to the U.S. in 2022 to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She was on the cusp of graduating from Texas Woman’s University and had expressed her excitement about the milestone in her final TikTok post. Her family and friends remember her as a compassionate, ambitious, and deeply religious individual who was passionate about helping children through healthcare.
Grant, 40, who had a prior criminal history involving domestic violence in Washington state, had been living in the apartment he owned for three months. The details surrounding when Odunsi moved in remain unclear. Following the incident, Grant attempted to take his own life and was hospitalized in critical condition. He has since been charged with murder and is being held on a $500,000 bond.
The tragedy has sparked outrage and grief within the community. Odunsi’s father has criticized the police and landlord for alleged negligence, citing repeated police visits to the property and the failure to identify Grant’s criminal past during tenant vetting. He is considering legal action.
A GoFundMe campaign initiated by Odunsi’s family has raised over £64,000 to cover funeral expenses and repatriate her body to the UK. The incident has left her family devastated and has raised questions about safety measures and oversight protocols in tenant placement.
