Report says CSU murder-suicide victim may have been assaulted by killer prior to death
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Rebecca Lara has been searching for answers as to why her daughter was killed last summer on the main campus of Columbus State University in a shocking murder suicide.
And now a report obtained by the Ledger-Enquirer provides details of what happened prior to the killing that stunned the college campus community that summer day.
Gisele Marina Razo Lara was killed on Aug. 18, 2023, by a fellow classmate, Nathaniel Janik.
Rebecca said Gisele had previously told her brother, Gisele’s uncle, there was a student that was bothering her and creeping her out.
A Title IX report report obtained through an open records request alleged that Gisele may have been raped by Janik at one point.
The report was made by a faculty member at the college.
The report reads:
“A former CSU student, (name redacted), told me that his partner, Gisele Lara (current CSU student) was raped by another CSU current student, Nate Janik while the two were intoxicated some months ago. [Redacted] said that this is why Gisele is uncomfortable around him today. [Redacted] was shaking while he was telling me this information. I did not ask questions. I told [redacted] that I am a mandatory reporter. Gisele and Nate are taking two classes together this semester: Ecology (BIOL 3217K, CRN’s 82803, 82804) and Ichthyology (BIOL 5525, CRN 82854).
The report was filed on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023 at 5:47 p.m.
Less than two days later Gisele would be dead.
“As her mom, I want to know what happened and how things happened,” said Rebecca. “It just doesn’t make sense to me.
“This is kind of just a shock to us. Like everyday we just say we can’t believe it,” she continued. “How could this happen and where did this killer come from. He just kind of came out of nowhere.”
Rebecca told the Ledger-Enquirer Gisele and Janik shared some classes together prior to her death.
“I think he (Janik) was infatuated with her (Gisele),” said Rebecca.
In the report the mandatory reporter states they don’t know the date or location of the alleged rape.
Rebecca said Janik may have showed up to Gisele’s lab the day prior to her death and followed her to her car.
The next day Gisele would be dead inside a car with Janik being found dead on the ground next to the car. Both were fatally shot.
CSU released a statement that morning saying it learned of a “gun-related incident” about 10:10 a.m. on Main Campus near the area of Lenoir Annex.
Mother’s visit to CSU
Rebecca made the trip from California to the scene of her daughter’s death on her birthday on February 18.
Rebecca stood over a memorial for her daughter. Before her lies colorful arrangements of flowers, crosses, decorated rocks, and a balloon that read “happy birthday.” It would have been her 22nd.
Rebecca said her daughter was, “...larger than life and always lived ahead of her time.”
Rebecca said Gisele wanted to be in the STEM field despite it being a male dominated field and said Gisele found pride in doing well in the field.
Research by Gisele on age and growth of spotted bass was recently presented at a conference in Seattle in January.
Gisele was a homeowner by the age of 19 and was a competitive cheerleader competing in places like the Staples Center in Los Angeles and appearing on ESPN, according to her mother.
Rebecca said Gisele was dedicated to her research and was on track to graduate this year.
“Her pets are what keep me going,” said Rebecca.
Rebecca said her daughter was an animal advocate and took in a pot-bellied pig ironically named “prosciutto grace.”
“I’ll never be the same.”
When asked how her daughter’s death affected her Rebecca said, “I’ll never be the same.”
“She was my purpose, I think, to live and to work,” said Rebecca. “She was far from me but she called me pretty much every day.”
Rebecca said she was proud to be Gisele’s mother but, “...21 years just wasn’t enough.”
Rebecca believed the school’s response to the Title IX report and response after Gisele’s death was inadequate.
But from the time the complaint was lodged to the time of her death was short. A document received from an open record’s request shows CSU’s Title IX coordinator, Sarah Secoy, reached out to Gisele on Aug. 17, 2023, offering to talk about support services resolution options available to her.
Rebecca believes the Title IX coordinator’s phone number, links to supportive services, and campus security’s phone number should’ve been included in the email sent to her daughter.
“I need to know, for her sake, what happened,” Rebecca said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident.
Rebecca said, “It’s six months and I have nothing from the GBI.”
“Obviously, it’s a murder-suicide,” said Rebecca before asking why the investigation is taking so long.
The Ledger-Enquirer received the following response to an open records request with the GBI seeking information regarding this case.
The message reads:
“The records in this case are part of a pending investigation or prosecution. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(4), the records are not subject to disclosure until the investigation/prosecution is concluded, which includes the appeals process.”
