A former “Beauty and the Geek Australia” contestant has been charged with murder after her partner was found dismembered and decapitated in their Port Lincoln, South Australia apartment, with police still searching for the victim’s missing head.
Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 34, was arrested on June 26 and charged with the murder of Julian Story, 39, whose burned and dismembered remains were discovered by police on June 19. Authorities believe Story was killed around midnight on June 17.
Police responded to the scene after receiving reports of a small fire at the apartment complex along Flinders Highway. When officers arrived, they found Story’s severely burned and disfigured remains in the bathroom, according to court documents obtained by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke confirmed that “Julian’s head had been removed during the dismemberment and, despite extensive searches, has not yet been located.” The missing head remains the investigation’s primary focus, with search teams having combed bushland, ocean areas, and parks around Port Lincoln before suspending the physical search on July 1.
According to police documents, neighbor Jordan Ware observed smoke coming from the unit and approached Chesser to inquire about the situation. She responded that nothing was wrong and proceeded to walk her dogs before locking the front door. Concerned about fire spreading, Ware entered through the rear door and found smoldering clothing, rags, and debris in the bathroom, which he extinguished with water buckets.
When emergency services arrived, they discovered Chesser seated in a garden chair in the backyard “in a catatonic and unresponsive state,” according to court documents. She was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
Chesser appeared on the 2010 season of “Beauty and the Geek Australia,” where she finished as runner-up. The reality show paired attractive women with intelligent men for various challenges. Following her television appearance, she worked as a model and appeared in magazines including Playboy, Ralph, and FHM.
Police have released CCTV footage showing a woman believed to be Chesser walking through Port Lincoln with three dogs while wearing black clothing and a head covering. The footage was captured in the hours following the alleged murder, and authorities are using it to track her movements between midnight June 17 and the afternoon of June 19.
Local residents reported seeing Chesser in the weeks leading up to the incident, noting she had shaved her head and was acting strangely. Video footage obtained by Channel 7 shows her at a Port Lincoln hotel wearing a dark wig and hat, which she removed while yelling. Additional footage shows her performing gymnastics outside a coffee shop and standing bare-chested at the Port Lincoln War Memorial.
Chesser had only recently arrived in Port Lincoln, having moved in with Story at his rented apartment a few months prior. She appears to have been living in the area since at least December 2024, having relocated from Queensland. Story, a local Port Lincoln resident, had previous charges including theft and disorderly behavior.
The accused appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on June 27 via video link from James Nash House, a forensic mental health facility where she is being held under a detention order. A suppression order preventing her identification was lifted during the court appearance. She was denied bail and is scheduled to return to court in December for a committal hearing.
In addition to murder charges, Chesser faces charges for disposing of human remains to pervert the course of justice and assaulting a police officer. The assault charge relates to an alleged incident that occurred the day after her arrest, with that hearing scheduled for July 31.
Detective Superintendent Fielke indicated there was no obvious motive at this stage of the investigation, though he confirmed the pair were in a domestic relationship. He described Chesser as compliant during her arrest and noted that she did not drive a vehicle, regularly walking around the township.
The investigation has been particularly challenging for Story’s family, who released a statement through police expressing gratitude for community support. They described navigating an unimaginable loss and thanked emergency services for their professionalism during the devastating time.
Chesser’s family has also spoken publicly about the charges, with her sister describing the situation as out of character and attributing it to mental health issues stemming from trauma and abuse. The family emphasized that the alleged actions do not represent who Chesser normally is.
Police continue analyzing CCTV footage from around Port Lincoln to map Chesser’s movements during the critical timeframe. They have appealed to residents to review any surveillance or dashcam footage that might assist the investigation, particularly focusing on the period between the alleged murder and when the fire was reported.
The case has drawn significant media attention both domestically and internationally, highlighting the serious nature of the charges and the ongoing search for Story’s remains. South Australia Police maintain that recovering the victim’s head remains crucial for providing closure to his family and allowing them to conduct a proper funeral.
