Stepdad Smirks as Jury Finds Him Guilty of Student’s M*rder After Chilling CCTV Footage Reveals His Secret Visit
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A 34-year-old stepfather who travelled 100 miles in the middle of the night to visit his teenage stepdaughter has been found guilty of her m*rder, after CCTV footage and disturbing evidence exposed the events leading to her death.
Nathan Owens was convicted at Preston Crown Court on October 22, 2026, following the death of 19-year-old university student Carla Georgescu, whose body was discovered in her accommodation at the University of Lancashire in Preston on what would have been her 20th birthday.
Jurors reached their verdict after just three hours of deliberation. Owens, who denied responsibility throughout the proceedings, was reportedly seen smirking during the prosecution’s closing arguments.
A Secret 100-Mile Journey Caught on CCTV
Carla had been studying clinical psychology and was preparing for a trip to Romania, where she planned to meet her boyfriend in person for the first time.
Just days before her death, her mother had visited Preston for a weekend together. They enjoyed shopping and dinner before Owens joined them for a birthday meal on February 1.
Carla said goodbye to her mother at approximately 9pm that evening, unaware it would be their final meeting.
More than 72 hours later, Owens secretly left Hartlepool while his wife was asleep and drove approximately 100 miles to Carla’s student accommodation.
Security cameras recorded him arriving and parking in a side street rather than his usual location.
Another recording showed Carla coming downstairs to let him inside while he concealed his appearance beneath a blanket.
It was the last time she was seen alive.
Disturbing Evidence Reveals His Obsession
Nathan Owens, 34, had travelled from Hartlepool the night before to kill her, Preston Crown Court heard (Picture: Lancashire Police/Press Association)
During the trial, prosecutor Nicholas Lumley KC described Owens as having developed an inappropriate and deeply entrenched fixation on his stepdaughter.
Jurors heard that he had collected hundreds of private photographs of Carla, altered ordinary images into inappropriate versions and created disturbing recordings involving a life-sized representation of her.
Prosecutors argued that his secret journey was deliberate, particularly because Carla was preparing to leave for Romania the following day.
The court heard that Owens subjected Carla to a serious personal attack before taking her life.
Investigators also established that he had attempted to arrange the scene to suggest that she had harmed herself.
When officers initially arrived, they considered that possibility. However, a closer examination of Carla’s injuries raised concerns and led investigators to uncover what had happened.
Defendant Smirks as Jury Hears Final Arguments
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Following his arrest, Owens denied harming Carla and maintained that he had no involvement in her death.
Despite his denials, he chose not to give evidence during the trial.
According to reports from Preston Crown Court, Owens appeared to smirk as the prosecution delivered its closing arguments.
After hearing the evidence, the jury found him guilty of m*rder.
He was scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2026.
A Promising Future Cut Tragically Short
Lancashire Police described Carla as an intelligent, gentle and articulate young woman who had been looking forward to continuing her education.
She hoped to pursue postgraduate studies in Romania and had already made plans for her future.
Her friends and family were left devastated by the loss, particularly given that the person responsible was someone she should have been able to trust.
Detective Inspector Pete Macdonald said the verdict represented an important step towards justice for Carla’s loved ones, although no court decision could restore the future she had lost.
The case has drawn particular attention because of the chilling CCTV recordings, Owens’ calculated journey and the disturbing evidence uncovered during the investigation.
For Carla’s family, the conviction brings legal accountability after a tragedy that began with what appeared to be an ordinary visit from someone close to her.