Mother of victim in apparent Columbus State murder-suicide plans to sue for $25 million

COLUMBUS, Ga. ( WRBL ) — The mother of a Columbus State University student who was shot to death on campus last year intends to sue CSU, the state of Georgia and the University System of Georgia.

Nearly a year ago on Aug. 18, 2023, Gisele Marina Razo Lara was found dead on CSU’s main campus in what investigators say was a domestic murder-suicide. Nathaniel Janik, who was also a CSU student, was found dead on the scene of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.

Gisele’s mother, Rebecca Lara, has hired Parker and McConkie, a Salt Lake City law firm , to sue the state of Georgia, the University System of Georgia and Columbus State University. She claims the university’s actions led to Gisele’s death and she plans to seek $25 million in damages.

The allegation from the law firm against the university is as follows:

“Gisele was killed under traumatic circumstances that have left her family, friends and the community in deep mourning.  Gisele had been the victim of sexual assault, harassment and stalking on campus, but when she reached out to the university for help, CSU failed her.  Rather than properly following its own safety policies and the federal requirements of the Clery Act and Title IX to provide needed protection and safety resources, CSU notified Gisele’s murderer of the report, which led to his retaliation against Gisele.”
— Parker and McConkie

Columbus State University provided this statement in response:

“While the university does not comment on pending litigation, we continue to mourn the loss of Gisele Lara and respect the grief of Gisele’s family.”
— Columbus State University

The law firm has filed a Ante Litem Notice with the university and others signaling intent to sue. The defendants have 90 days to respond.

“However, if resolution is not possible, we will evaluate our options for the timing and venue of filing,” Parker and McConkie said in reference to the notice. “Right now I would anticipate that the case would be filed in Georgia state court in Muscogee County, but that could change.”

Rebecca Lara sat down with WRBL back in February to speak on her daughter’s death. She described her daughter as a good person with a bright future.

At that time, Rebecca Lara had not seen the GBI report. She said without the full report, her pain was compounded.

“To me, she was everything,” Rebecca Lara shared in February. “She was a special human being. I was always in awe of her because she was very bright and had a big heart.”

Gisele would have turned 22 the week of that interview. She was a biology student from the Los Angeles, California area.

This investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has since concluded. WRBL reached out to the GBI for the results. We will keep you updated.

Previous Coverage

• Mother of CSU murder-suicide victim still waiting for GBI report six months after her daughter’s death
• Columbus State makes changes to Cougar Alert system in aftermath of a recent murder-suicide on campus
• Muscogee County Coroner ID deceased in CSU ‘apparent domestic homicide, suicide’

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