The devastated mother of 21-year-old Jamie Collins has spoken publicly for the first time since her son’s brutal murder, revealing a series of distressing text messages that showed the young robotics student had grown increasingly concerned about one of his housemates and was actively planning to move out of the shared house in Filton, south Gloucestershire. Jamie was found stabbed to death in the rear garden of the Cleve Road property in the early hours of Thursday, April 9, 2026. His housemate, 23-year-old Zack Coughlan, has been charged with his murder.

Jamie’s mother, who has asked to remain anonymous to protect her family’s privacy during this unimaginable time, said the messages painted a worrying picture of escalating tension in the student house share. In the days and weeks leading up to the tragedy, Jamie had confided in her that one of his housemates was displaying “unstable” and unpredictable behaviour that was making him feel uncomfortable and unsafe. He described incidents that left him anxious, including mood swings, erratic comments, and a general atmosphere of unease that had worsened over recent months.

“He told me he didn’t feel right there anymore,” his mother said in an emotional interview. “He was looking at new places and had even started packing some of his things. He just wanted to get out quietly without causing drama.” The texts, sent in the final days of Jamie’s life, showed a young man trying to handle the situation maturely while clearly growing more concerned. In one message, Jamie mentioned that living with the housemate had become “mentally draining” and that he no longer felt relaxed in his own home. Another text expressed relief that he had found potential new accommodation and was counting down the days until he could leave.

These revelations have added a heartbreaking new dimension to an already shocking case. Jamie Collins, a bright and promising robotics student at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), was described by friends and lecturers as intelligent, kind, and full of potential. He was passionate about technology and innovation, actively involved in university societies, and known for his warm personality and willingness to help others. His death in what should have been a safe student environment has left the campus and the wider Bristol community reeling.

The initial post-mortem examination confirmed that Jamie died from multiple stab wounds, including a fatal injury to the neck. Emergency services were called to the property in the early hours of Thursday morning after reports of a serious incident. Paramedics arrived to find Jamie collapsed in the rear garden with life-threatening injuries. Despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The speed and brutality of the attack have left many struggling to comprehend how such violence could erupt in an ordinary student house share.

On Sunday, April 12, Zack Coughlan — who lived in the same property as Jamie — was arrested and later charged with murder. He appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and has been remanded in custody. The charge has brought some sense of progress to the police investigation, but it has done little to ease the profound grief felt by Jamie’s family and friends. The fact that the alleged perpetrator was someone Jamie lived with daily has only deepened the sense of betrayal and disbelief.

Jamie’s mother has spoken movingly about her son’s final days, saying he was excited about his studies and had been making positive plans for the future. He had spoken enthusiastically about potential new accommodation and was looking forward to a fresh start away from the tension in the current house. She described him as a gentle, hardworking young man who avoided conflict and simply wanted a peaceful living environment to focus on his degree. The realisation that her son had been quietly struggling with an uncomfortable housemate situation — yet chose not to burden others with his worries — has added layers of guilt and sorrow to her grief.

The University of the West of England has offered full support to students and staff affected by the tragedy. Counselling services have been made available, and the institution has described Jamie as a valued member of the university community whose loss will be deeply felt. Many students have expressed shock that such violence could occur between housemates who were supposedly familiar with one another. The incident has prompted wider conversations about mental health support for young adults living independently, the importance of recognising warning signs in shared living situations, and the need for better conflict resolution resources on campuses.

Avon and Somerset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team continues to examine the circumstances leading up to the attack. Detectives have appealed for anyone with information, including CCTV, dashcam footage, or witness accounts from the Filton area in the early hours of Thursday, to come forward. While the charge against Zack Coughlan marks a significant step, the full picture of what happened inside the house share that night is still being pieced together.

For Jamie’s family, the pain is compounded by the knowledge that their son had been planning to leave the problematic living situation. His mother has expressed regret that she didn’t push him harder to move sooner, though she acknowledges that no parent could have predicted such a violent outcome. The text messages she has shared publicly serve as a poignant reminder of how quickly everyday tensions can escalate into tragedy when warning signs are not fully recognised or acted upon.

The broader Bristol student community has rallied in support of Jamie’s family. Tributes have flooded social media and the university campus, with many describing Jamie as someone who brought positivity and kindness wherever he went. Flowers and messages have been left near the property on Cleve Road, turning the area into a makeshift memorial for a young man whose life was cut short in the most heartbreaking way.

This case has also highlighted important issues around student safety and mental wellbeing. Shared student houses are a common part of university life, offering independence and camaraderie, but they can also become environments where tensions build unnoticed. Jamie’s mother’s decision to speak out about her son’s final texts is both an act of courage and a call for greater awareness. She hopes that by sharing Jamie’s concerns about his housemate’s unstable behaviour, other students and parents might be encouraged to take similar feelings seriously and seek help before situations deteriorate.

As the legal process moves forward, Zack Coughlan remains in custody awaiting further court appearances. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the murder charge, and the case is expected to be closely monitored as it progresses through the justice system.

For Jamie Collins’ loved ones, the coming weeks and months will be filled with profound grief as they try to come to terms with losing a son, brother, and friend who had so much life ahead of him. His mother’s bravery in revealing his final messages offers a small window into the quiet struggles he faced in his last days — struggles that, tragically, he could not escape.

Jamie Collins was a young man with dreams, talent, and a kind heart. His death in the garden of what should have been a safe student home serves as a tragic reminder of how fragile life can be and how important it is to listen when someone expresses discomfort or fear about their living situation. As the investigation continues and the family mourns, the memory of Jamie — and the texts that showed his desire for a peaceful new start — will remain a poignant and painful part of this heartbreaking story.