Stepdad Jailed for 35 Years for Murder of Student on Her Birthday
Nathan Owens was found guilty of killing his stepdaughter, Carla Georgescu, at her university flat and staging the scene.
A man has been sentenced to a minimum of 35 years in prison for the murder of his stepdaughter, Carla Georgescu, on her 20th birthday. Nathan Owens, 34, killed Georgescu in her university flat in Preston in February and then attempted to make it appear as though she had died by suicide.
Judge Jacobs described Georgescu as a polite, kind, intelligent, and articulate student with a gentle nature, but who suffered a “horrific brutal attack.” The court heard that Owens harbored a “longstanding sexual obsession” with Georgescu, which was concealed from her and her mother.
During the attack, Georgescu sustained knife wounds, including injuries from defending herself, internal injuries from a sexual assault, and two significant blows to the head. Owens also attempted to strangle her.
Carla Georgescu was reportedly thriving at the University of Lancashire, pursuing studies with aspirations of a doctorate, and was looking forward to a trip to Romania to see her first boyfriend. Her body was discovered in her room at the university's Ribble Hall on February 5.
CCTV footage presented at trial showed Owens having a meal with Georgescu and her mother days before her death. He was later seen entering her flat in the early hours of February 4, wearing a blanket. Georgescu admitted him to the building around 4 a.m. after he claimed he needed to retrieve an item. He departed approximately 90 minutes later. This interaction was the last time she was seen alive.
Following the murder, Owens subjected his stepdaughter to a violent and sexual assault before strangling her. He then staged the scene to resemble a suicide and returned home, disposing of evidence along his route.
Detectives arrested Owens shortly after, but he denied any involvement in Georgescu's death. He opted not to testify during his trial.
Detective Inspector Pete Macdonald stated that Owens had not only taken Carla's life but had also irrevocably altered her mother's life, tearing apart the family he was entrusted to care for. He described Owens as “truly despicable.”