Port Lincoln rocked by man's alleged murder by reality TV contestant

Australia Broadcast Center

03-07-2025

While conversation in the coastal community town of Port Lincoln might generally focus on topics such as wind direction and swell, the past few weeks have been different.
On June 19, emergency services discovered the body of 39-year-old Julian Story in a unit on the Flinders Highway, Port Lincoln.
Police allege Mr Story was murdered by his partner, Tamika Chesser, sometime around midnight on June 17.
Ms Chesser, who was a contestant on television show Beauty and the Geek in 2010, was charged with murder.
She appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on June 27, via video link from James Nash House psychiatric facility.
An extensive search by police and emergency services has not recovered Mr Story's head, with the search currently paused.
The grisly details of the alleged crime and the reality TV past of the accused have generated intense interest, locally and across the country.
The case has been picked up internationally, with American broadcaster CBS covering the allegations.
Port Lincoln Mayor Diana Mislov said the impact of the alleged crime was magnified when it happened in a small community such as Port Lincoln.
"From a community perspective we're reeling … we're shocked," she said.
"How does something like that happen in our beautiful town? It's beyond comprehension.
"Julian lived here nearly his whole life, so there are so many connections.
She said Mr Story's mother was a prominent volunteer in the community.
"She's a beautiful lady who is like family to me," she said.
"When something like this impacts a small community like ours, everybody is affected."
Ms Mislov said that while she understood the media interest in the story, she was disappointed with the graphic nature of some reporting.
"Some of the headlines are really quite graphic," she said.
"As a parent, to see something along the lines of 'Where is his head?' splashed on a newspaper is really, really disturbing.
"I understand the media need to sell a headline and a story and want to inform everybody.
"Kudos to the people I've spoken to that have had empathy for the families involved."
From supermarket aisles to takeaway shops, the alleged murder and subsequent search for Mr Story's remains has dominated conversation in recent weeks.
Michael Haritos, who runs a popular pizza store, said while the alleged crime came up in dealings with customers, it was important to take some gossip with a grain of salt.
"People come into the store and they're talking about it," he said.
"You do hear things, but not everything is gospel.
He said "everyone" was connected to it.
"It's that six degrees of separation … it's probably even less in this town," he said.
Schoolyards have not been exempt, with residents finding out information from their kids in the days after the alleged murder.
James Blevin, who is chief executive officer of YouTurn, a not-for-profit that focuses on child safety, mental health and suicide prevention, said it was a good idea for parents to dedicate time and attention to conversations with their kids.
"I think it's never ideal to expose children to some of the things that the community has been seeing and witnessing and experiencing these last few weeks," he said.
"I think time and attention is what parents need to give to their children, to talk through it as much as possible … and staying calm and grounded in those conversations that parents are having.
"The Statewide Well-Being Intervention Support Service (SWISS) is accessible online.
"It's specific … so people are specifically trained to support schools and communities following distressing incidents such as this."
The incident drew South Australian Police's Major Crime, Forensic and Water Operations units to Port Lincoln.
The State Emergency Service has also been heavily involved in the search for Mr Story's remains.
Residents have also expressed interest in assisting with the search; however, police have preferred information or CCTV footage on Ms Chesser's whereabouts.
Volunteer firefighters were among the first responders at the scene.
They responded to a neighbour's call about a small fire at the unit.
Port Lincoln Parish Priest and friend of the Story family, Paul Bourke, said people were struggling.
Ms Mislov also praised first responders and called for a look into the timeliness of mental health services in regional and rural areas.
"Hold each other tight. Share stories, share memories, and talk about how its making you feel," Ms Mislov said.
"This has been a chance for us all to have a reality check."
Ms Chesser will return to court in December.