A 27-year-old Atlanta content creator and nail technician who had recently confided in friends that she believed she was being stalked has been found dead in her apartment.
The tragic incident has prompted her family to demand answers from police after a delayed welfare check and conflicting accounts from investigators.
Josephine “Josie” Tarwai, originally from Minneapolis, stopped responding to calls on Sept. 28. Alarmed, her family contacted Minnesota authorities to request a welfare check in Atlanta. But the Atlanta Police Department did not enter her apartment at the Sheamoy complex until Sept. 30—two days later—where officers found her deceased and alone in bed. She was unclothed, according to the incident report.
Police initially marked the case as “no crime.”
Her family immediately rejected that assessment.
Crucial Questions Unanswered
Tarwai’s brother, Joseph, flew to Atlanta and says he was met with contradictory explanations from police.
“They told us her room was barricaded. Then they said it wasn’t. They said they forced entry, then said the apartment staff used a key,” he told the Leah Gordone Show. “Police are calling me asking what I think happened. I want to know what they think happened.”
The family says their requests for clarity have gone largely unanswered.
Friends: She Said Someone Was Watching Her
In the weeks before her death, Tarwai told close friends she feared she was being stalked and felt unsafe. Those concerns were not documented in any formal police report.
Known online as “Josie Daisy,” she was meticulous about privacy. She rarely geotagged posts, and when she did, they were uploaded long after she’d left the location.
Her family believes that makes her warnings even more significant, and dismissing them even more troubling.
Possible Signs of a Struggle
Unsatisfied with the police response, the family hired private investigator Robin Martinelli, who entered the apartment with them days after Tarwai’s body was removed. She described finding conditions that raised red flags:
- Several of Tarwai’s fingernails were broken—unusual for a nail artist known for immaculate upkeep.
- She had bruises and scratches on her body.
- The apartment appeared disturbed, and the front lock was malfunctioning.
Martinelli said she attempted to deliver potential evidence to police but was met with indifference.
“Nobody came and nobody cared,” she told 11Alive.
A Creative Life Cut Short
Tarwai, an ACT Six scholar and Bethel University graduate, moved to Atlanta to expand her work as a digital creator, podcaster and nail artist. She balanced content creation, videography, and dance work while supporting herself financially and building a brand.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released a cause of death. Results may take up to 90 days. Police suggested she may have suffered a diabetic episode, but her family insists she was healthy and had no diabetes diagnosis.
Her online audience knew her as warm, charismatic, and deeply introspective—often speaking openly about faith, boundaries, and staying grounded in an unpredictable world.
Something Happened to Her
Despite police declaring there was no crime, Tarwai’s family says too much remains unexplained: the delay in checking on her, the conflicting statements, the visible injuries, and her repeated fears of being watched.
“We believe something happened to her,” her brother said. “We’re not giving up.”
How to Submit Tips
Anyone with information can contact:
- Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta: 404-577-TIPS (8477) or the P3 Tips App
- Atlanta Police Department Non-Emergency: 404-658-6666
- 311 within Atlanta city limits
