Beauty and the Geek star charged with murder after boyfriend's body found decapitated
A former reality TV personality has been charged with a grisly murder after her boyfriend was found decapitated in a home they shared following a minor blaze.
Beauty and the Geek star Tamika Sueann-Rose Chesser, aged 34, was taken into custody on suspicion of murder following an investigation by the authorities into the death of her partner, 39-year-old Julian Story, who was found decapitated in their South Australian abode on June 19.
The detectives are still piecing together the puzzle of Julian's whereabouts, primarily searching for his missing head, with his charred and headless remains having been located in the bathroom of their Port Lincoln residence, reports the Mirror.
Tamika's arrest occurred a mere 48 hours post-discovery, as officers stumbled upon her sitting motionless in a garden, appearing catatonic, as stated in legal documentation.
Alongside the murder charge, Tamika is also accused of meddling with human remains in order to obstruct justice, along with assaulting a police constable, per The Telegraph's briefing.
Officials have prompted the general public to provide assistance in locating Julian's severed head, which they attest was detached subsequent to his supposed slaying in the late hours of June 17, reports the Daily Star.
Detective Superintendent Darran Fielke explained at a media briefing, not delving deeply into details: "While I won't provide any further detail about that at this time, I can tragically say that we have not recovered the head of Julian Story."
The senior detective also urged the populace to understand the grief engulfing Julian's family during this ordeal: "I can only imagine, and I want you to imagine, the grief this news is causing Julian's family."
The main objective for the force, he affirmed, is to retrieve Julian's head. He said: "Recovering Julian's head to return it to his family so they can have a peaceful outcome, have a funeral and lay him to rest is a really important aspect for us."
It has emerged that Tamika, who was arrested after being found in a state of unresponsiveness, showed no clear motive for her actions.
The woman, caught on CCTV with her dogs subsequent to the alleged murder, is at the centre of police appeals as they seek clues to the location of Julian's missing head.
Detective Superintendent Fielke issued a plea stating: "I'm appealing to local residents to review CCTV or dash cam footage which they may have, which may assist the investigation."
A prior court order preventing the identification of Tamika and the details of the case has been lifted by Magistrate Ben Sale in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday.
Facing court through a video link, Tamika was denied bail and remains under a mental health detention order. Tamika is due to appear in court again this December.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Brit DJ, 24, left in coma with bleed on brain in Zante after horror accident
A promising DJ is now fighting for his life in the Greek holiday hotspot after suffering a horrific accident, with his devastated girlfriend giving an update on his condition A young DJ on an "amazing" job in Zante is now fighting for his life after a horrific quad big accident. Kai Roberts, from Pembrokeshire in Wales, was in the Greek party hotspot after being offered the opportunity to support the likes of Tom Zanetti at a club. But on Sunday (June 29), tragedy struck when the quad bike he was riding with a friend slammed into a wall. His friend escaped with minor injuries but doctors discovered a bleed on Kai's brain when he was rushed to hospital and he was placed in an induced coma. His devastated girlfriend, Kya Gillane-Heywood, who had been by his side in Greece, has now spoken of her shock. Speaking to the Mirror from the holiday hotspot, she said: 'It is horrible. It is weird because we are all still in shock so it doesn't feel real but at the same time it is just crazy because it is so real if that makes any sense? I don't know how to describe it.' Kai works at a dairy factory back home in Pembrokeshire, Wales, while working part-time as a DJ at weekends. He was loving life this summer after being given the "amazing opportunity" to take a DJ residence at Ikon club in Zante for the summer. Explaining what happened, Kya said: 'It was Sunday and it happened around 5pm. They were out on the quads and obviously then they had the accident. 'One of the girls is out here with me, she found out and I didn't have my phone with me at the time. She came and found me and told me so I rang the other boy he was with to see what was going on. 'At that point they didn't think it was as serious. It turned out when he got to the medical centre, they transferred him straight to the hospital and they did a CT scan and he had a bleed on the brain.' Kai, who was due to return today (July 1) having been out in Greece since June 1, was then placed in an induced coma so he could be flown to mainland Greece. He is now in intensive care with a team of neurosurgeons. The last update Kya heard was that Kai remained in a coma and had not gotten any better or worse. But with no improvements being made to his condition, his family members, some of whom have flown to Greece to be by his side, are anxiously waiting for more positive news. His girlfriend has started a fundraiser, which has already raised over £5,000, and she told us why funds were vital. She said: 'Kai has a lot of friends everywhere because he is an amazing person and everyone loves him. 'We are not sure if the insurance will cover him and that is not what we have been sorting at the minute so the cost to his family coming out to be with him. 'Potentially medical costs because when he does recover, which hopefully he will, he will not be able to work. So it will support him and his family.' A station manager at Pure West Radio, where Kai hosts a house music show, has also spoken about the accident. Toby Ellis said: 'It's been an incredibly difficult 24 hours for all of us at Pure West Radio as we come to terms with the news about one of the PWR Dance Family DJs, Kai Roberts, who has suffered a serious head injury following a quad bike accident in Zante yesterday.' And speaking about a fundraising event at different clubs on Saturday July 26, he added: 'This is the first time all of these nightclubs have been on the same bill together.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Mirror's Daily Digest - heat health warning to longest ever cold case conviction
In this Tuesday's Mirror Daily Digest, we've pulled together the biggest stories of the day from the country's longest ever cold case conviction to a common prescription drug warning Welcome to the Mirror's Daily Digest, where we'll be pulling together all the best stories of the day from our News, Royal, Politics teams and more. This Tuesday, we're bringing you inside the newsroom with coverage on the country's longest ever cold case conviction through to the amber health alert. Our Politics team has been following the latest on Keir Starmer's major rebellion threat, with a key vote on welfare reforms later today. Meanwhile, we've also covered the arrest of three ex-members of the senior leadership team at a hospital where Lucy Letby worked in connection with alleged manslaughter. Ryland Headley, 92, to die in jail for 1967 rape and murder of Louisa Dunne, 75 Our News team has been closely following the country's longest ever cold case conviction, in which a 92-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison - with a minimum term of 20 years - for the rape and murder of an elderly widow in 1967. Ryland Headley claimed he was innocent but was caught after his DNA was found back in the 60s and re-tested with modern forensic techniques. He was found guilty after a trial at Bristol Crown Court of killing 75-year-old Louisa Dunne in her own home. The twice-widowed woman was found dead by a neighbour in her home in the Easton area of Bristol on June 28, 1967. She was fully dressed, but had her knickers round her ankles and a nylon type stocking lying across her neck. She had been strangled. DWP chief Liz Kendall beams outside No10 despite brewing welfare rebellion Meanwhile, our Politics team has been working around the clock to provide live updates as Keir Starmer faces rebellion over the controversial welfare cuts. This evening, MPs are due to vote on reforms - first set out in March - with the government bracing for a huge revolt from angry Labour MPs. Ministers hope major concessions will be enough to win over Labour rebels. Welfare chief Liz Kendall was this morning seen smiling as she put on a positive face ahead of this afternoon's debate. She yesterday defended the massive DWP shake-up after a bruising week for the government over controversial disability cuts. While some Labour MPs have said they will back the government after last week's concessions, which will protect current claimants, some 50-60 of them are still said to be considering voting against the government. It would be the biggest revolt of Mr Starmer's premiership so far. Common prescription drugs that can be fatal when taken in scorching 35C heat In other news, an amber health alert has been issued in parts of the UK for the second time in two weeks amid the sweltering heatwave. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issues the alert during periods of extreme heat, which could impact people's health and wellbeing and therefore put strain on public services like the NHS. The amber warning means the entire population could be at risk from the extreme heat, with travel likely to be disrupted, and more ambulances needed. Experts have warned that five million Brits could be at a further increased health risk due to a common prescription medication: antidepressants. One of the common side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is sweating more than normal - and in a heatwave this can present a danger, experts have claimed. Three former bosses at Lucy Letby hospital arrested This morning, our News team reported that three ex-members of the senior leadership team at the hospital where Lucy Letby worked have been arrested in connection with alleged manslaughter. The three were in leadership roles at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016, but have not been named. They were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. It comes after Letby, 35, was found guilty of murdering seven children as well as attempting to murder seven more between June 2015 and June 2016. She had been working at the neonatal unit at the hospital at the time. Finally, former Minister of State for Home Affairs Norman Baker has slammed Buckingham Palace 'pretending to be prudent' as 'utter hogwash'. It comes as the Royal Family's accounts for 2024 to 2025 have been revealed, showing the Firm spent a total of £2.7million last year on travel by private jet, helicopters and rail. In an opinion piece for the Mirror, Norman wrote: 'Buckingham Palace pretends the royals are being prudent with public money. What utter hogwash. They even have the cheek to suggest that Charles is being generous because he only takes 12% of the income of the Crown Estate. 'Reality check: the Crown Estate has in effect been a public body since 1760, and until 2011, 100% of its profits went to the Treasury to pay for schools, hospitals, defence and, yes, disability benefits. This 12% is a new royal tax on the public purse.' He added: 'The shocking truth is that the royals really don't care how much public money they spend. Last year they incredibly ran up a bill for the taxpayer of almost £1.2m on charter flights just within Great Britain to places as difficult to reach as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle.'
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Beauty and the Crook: Inside the torrid love affair that ended in tragedy, as police suspend search for the missing head of man allegedly murdered and dismembered by TV glamour model
A man allegedly murdered and beheaded by his Beauty and the Geek star girlfriend had regular run-ins with the law in his hometown but was 'very much loved' by his family and friends. As police continue trying to locate Julian Story's missing head, a clearer picture is emerging of the months leading up to his grisly death at Port Lincoln on South Australia 's Eyre Peninsula. Mr Story's partner, Tamika Chesser, is accused of killing and decapitating her guitar-playing boyfriend the day after his 39th birthday two weeks ago. Police said last Friday that Mr Story was 'dismembered' but have not provided further details of what was allegedly done to his body, other than that his head was still missing. Chesser, who finished second in series two of Beauty and the Geek in 2010, is now being held in James Nash House, a forensic mental health care facility, after being discharged from Port Lincoln Hospital. The 34-year-old allegedly carried Mr Story's head in a bag from the dingy unit they shared on the Flinders Highway and dumped it in an unknown location. Police, assisted by SES volunteers, have scoured cliffs and bush around the town along with the waters off the Eyre Peninsula, as Mr Story's family faces a horrific wait to bury their loved one. Daily Mail Australia can reveal that at the time of Mr Story's death he was halfway through serving a six-month good behaviour bond for committing a string of thefts. In March, he was convicted at Port Lincoln Magistrates Court of four counts of dishonestly taking property without consent, as well as one count each of disorderly behaviour and damaging a building or motor vehicle. Mr Story was also ordered to pay $42.80 compensation in September last year for another theft and was convicted 12 months earlier of driving with cannabis in his system. The owner of a service station where CCTV footage captured Chesser on the day she allegedly murdered Mr Story said the dead man was a 'regular shoplifter'. Harry Singh told 7News on Monday that Chesser and Mr Story were well-known in the fishing port and both appeared to be troubled. 'He was a regular shoplifter - tens of times, more than ten times,' Mr Singh said. 'She used to be a regular customer, once or twice a week she used to come to us. No one deserves that end.' Mr Story's family issued a statement on Friday thanking police and other emergency services 'for their compassion and professionalism during this devastating time'. 'We are navigating an unimaginable loss, and your care has brought comfort amid the chaos,' the statement read. 'We are also deeply grateful to our family and friends and this extraordinary community whose kindness and support have helped carry us through. 'Your prayers, presence, and quiet strength mean more than words can say. This will be our only statement.' Port Lincoln's mayor, Diana Mislov, has also spoken of the family's loss. 'I know he loved his family deeply,' Ms Mislov said on Saturday. 'I just want the community and for everyone to understand that he was a human being who didn't deserve this and was much loved, very much loved.' Mr Story, whose family still lives in Port Lincoln, had been renting his flat for three years on his own until Chesser recently moved in with him. His 'Bongo Bus' campervan was still parked in the driveway outside the home when emergency services arrived after reports of a small fire at the address and found the harrowing scene of his dismembered remains inside. It is unclear how Mr Story met the former cocktail waitress, whose full name is Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, but it is believed she moved to South Australia from Queensland. On Tuesday, police revealed they had suspended the active search for Mr Story's head, which had covered reserves, parks, bushland and ocean around the Port Lincoln pier and bay area. 'Intensive searching using these resources has been paused for now but may resume at a later stage,' a police spokesman said. 'Investigators are now in the process of reviewing a significant amount of CCTV footage to determine any other areas for searching and may return to Port Lincoln.' Chesser, who had appeared in men's magazines including FHM and Ralph, was seen by Port Lincoln locals with her head shaved and acting oddly in the weeks before Mr Story's alleged murder. Two residents told Daily Mail Australia that Chesser arrived in town only a few months ago, and they only remembered her as having a shaven head. Chesser visited Kmart and other shops in central Port Lincoln, usually accompanied by a small dog. One shop worker said Chesser 'acted normal, but she was, like, bald'. However, footage has emerged of the reality TV star - caught on CCTV or filmed by locals - acting strangely. In one video, obtained by 7News, she was shown at a Port Lincoln hotel wearing a long dark wig and a hat, which Chesser then ripped off as she yelled. In another video, she was also sporting a shaved head while doing gymnastics on bars outside a coffee shop, and in a third was standing bare-chested at the Port Lincoln War Memorial. Police allege Mr Story was murdered in the early hours of June 17 but it was not until June 19 that neighbours were alerted to a fire coming from inside the couple's home. Jordan Ware said when he expressed concern at smoke billowing out of the unit next door to him, Chesser 'reckoned everything was okay'. Mr Ware went inside anyway and threw water on what he thought was a pile of smouldering rags, but was allegedly Mr Story's headless remains. He told The Advertiser newspaper of hearing the couple having 'a bit of an argument' in the days before Mr Story's body was discovered. 'I could hear him saying "Babe please don't" so I went to check on the door and she slammed the door straight on me,' Mr Ware said. When emergency services responded, they found Mr Story dismembered and missing his head on the bathroom floor of the apartment, according to investigators. Police later released CCTV images and video which showed Chesser after Mr Story's alleged murder, walking three dogs and carrying a bag while wearing a hijab-style head covering. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told a press conference it was 'crucial' Mr Story's head was returned to his family so they could hold a funeral. 'We know that after his alleged murder, Julian's body was dismembered and while I won't provide any further details about that at this time, I can tragically say that we have not recovered the head of Julian Story,' Detective Superintendent Fielke said. 'I can only imagine… the grief this news is causing Julian's family. 'It is crucial that we locate Julian's head so that his family has the opportunity to lay him to rest.' In an effort to find Mr Story's head, officers are appealing to the public for help in tracking Chesser's movements in the week of the alleged murder. They are particularly interested in her whereabouts between midnight on Tuesday June 17 and around the time the fire was reported at 3.30pm on June 19. 'We know that Tamika did not drive a vehicle and regularly walked around the township of Port Lincoln,' Detective Superintendent Fielke said. A close relative told Daily Mail Australia their family was reeling from reports her sibling had been accused of such a serious offence. 'Please report how Tamika is in a mental psychosis,' said the relative. 'This is not her... she would never do these things.' In Chesser's last phone call to her family, a week before the alleged murder, she had been worried about one of her dogs because it had 'pooed on the floor'. Mr Story, who was 'not in a good mind space himself' had in earlier phone calls been 'going off in the background' when the Chesser family spoke with the alleged killer. 'There is more to this story,' the relative said. They said 'a lot has happened' in Chesser's life since she appeared on Beauty and the Geek and 'in the past five years she's become very mentally ill'. They told 9News: 'It just started getting worse, you know, and she started being in and out of mental health.' 'She didn't mention anything and she just told everyone that she loves them. It is very sad and I'm really sorry to Julian's family.' In addition to the murder charge, Chesser is accused of assaulting police. She is further charged with knowingly performing an act or omission intending to result in human remains being less likely to be found for the purposes of concealing the commission of an offence.
