The family of 23-year-old nursing student Elizabeth “Tami” Odunsi, who was tragically killed by her roommate, Chester Lamar Grant, is filing a $65 million negligence lawsuit against the property management company, For A Place To Live LLC, and SafeRent Solutions, a company that conducted Grant’s criminal background check.
The lawsuit claims the companies were negligent in pairing Odunsi with Grant, a man with an extensive criminal history, including domestic violence convictions.
The Incident
On April 26, 2025, Odunsi was fatally stabbed by Grant, 40, in their shared apartment in Houston, Texas. The confrontation began with a verbal argument, which quickly escalated into physical violence. Odunsi’s parents, who were on speakerphone with her at the time, heard her scream for help before the phone suddenly went dead.
Alarmed, they asked a family friend in Houston to check on their daughter. Authorities arrived to find Odunsi unconscious on the kitchen floor, covered in blood. She had been stabbed over 24 times.
Grant, who attempted to take his own life after the murder, survived and remains in the Harris County Jail facing a murder charge. He and Odunsi had been living together for several months, but their relationship had become increasingly volatile in the days leading up to her death.
The Lawsuit’s Allegations
The Odunsi family’s lawsuit targets For A Place To Live LLC and SafeRent Solutions for their failure to protect Odunsi. The lawsuit accuses the property management company of breaching its duty of care by allowing Grant, with a violent criminal background, to lease the apartment.
Odunsi had expressed concerns about Grant’s behavior and requested a Zoom meeting with the company to discuss the situation. However, the meeting was canceled just two hours before it was scheduled.
“Her parents heard her scream, heard her cry for help, and then her phone went dead,” said attorney Jonathan Cox. The lawsuit also claims the company ignored Odunsi’s complaints, which could have potentially prevented her tragic death.
The property management company used SafeRent Solutions for Grant’s background check. According to attorney Troy Pradia, a simple Google search revealed Grant’s domestic violence convictions, which should have been flagged during the screening process.
“It was just that easy for them to find out what happened and what he was doing prior to him moving in with Tami,” Pradia stated.
Odunsi’s Legacy
Odunsi, originally from the U.K., was a promising nursing student and active member of her church. She had dreams of working with children as a nurse and was set to graduate just days before her death. Her family described her as a kind, ambitious, and devout Christian, whose tragic death has left them devastated.
“She did everything right, but no one listened to my daughter,” said her mother, Adenike Odunsi.
Community Support and Memorial
In the wake of her passing, Odunsi’s family set up a GoFundMe page to honor her memory. The page describes her as a beautiful soul, full of light and love for others.
The community, including those who knew her from social media, rallied around the family in their grief, with many sharing their memories of the young woman known as “Tami Dollars” or “TD” on TikTok.
Seeking Justice
The Odunsi family is seeking justice for Tami’s death, as they argue that negligence by the property management and the background check company led to her tragic and untimely death. Their lawsuit seeks not only compensation but also accountability for the entities responsible for putting her in harm’s way.
