Nathan Owens suspected in murder of Romanian student in Preston

Nathan Owens, a 34-year-old man from Hartlepool, is the primary suspect in the murder of 19-year-old Romanian student Carla Georgescu. The victim was found dead in her dormitory room at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston on February 10, 2026, the day she was set to celebrate her 20th birthday.

Prosecutors at Preston Crown Court presented surveillance footage showing Owens entering the student accommodation building at 4:00 AM with a blanket over his head to conceal his face. He was seen leaving the building at 5:30 AM wearing a medical mask and using an umbrella to hide his identity, while carrying the victim's shoes and two bags believed to belong to her.

The discovery was made by university security during a routine check after the victim's mother raised an alarm when Carla stopped responding to phone calls.