Latest news with #BeautyAndTheGeek
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
New search for remains after alleged murder of former Beauty And The Geek star Tamika Chesser's partner Julian Story in Port Lincoln
A large-scale search has resumed for the missing remains of Julian Story, who was allegedly murdered and decapitated by his girlfriend in June. 'Several additional search sites' have been identified around the seaside town of Port Lincoln, South Australia, where Story had lived with former Beauty And The Geek star Tamika Chesser. Police will allege Story was murdered by Chesser, 34, on Tuesday June 17 — the day after his 39th birthday. Chesser was runner-up in the reality TV show Beauty And The Geek's 2010 season. Police allege Story was dismembered before Chesser set his remains on fire in the couple's bathroom. She he has since been charged with Story's murder. Story's head has not been found, despite previous searches. The latest search involves South Australia Police major crime investigators, and local support services. 'In the days following the murder, Major Crime detectives, local police, Water Operations Unit and the SA State Emergency Service conducted extensive searches around Port Lincoln without success,' Detective Superintendent Fielke said. 'New search areas have been identified and, by undertaking these renewed searches, we hope to find Julian's missing remains, which will give comfort to his family and allow them to peacefully lay him to rest. 'Police have reviewed a significant amount of CCTV footage since the incident which has provided a number of investigational leads. We also appreciate the ongoing assistance the community of Port Lincoln has provided throughout the investigation.' People have appealed for public assistance tracking Chesser's movements around the time of the alleged murder, and have released CCTV images of the dark clothing she was seen wearing while walking three dogs Police are appealing to local residents to review any CCTV or dashcam footage they have which may assist the investigation. Anyone with any information or CCTV is urged to contact the police. Chesser has been charged with murdering Story, disposing of human remains to pervert the course of justice and assaulting a police officer. She is due back in court in December.
ABC News
03-07-2025
- ABC News
Port Lincoln rocked by man's alleged murder by reality TV contestant
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.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- 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.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Major search for man's head paused as police trawl CCTV
A search for a man's decapitated head has been paused as police review CCTV footage to pinpoint the movements of the ex-reality TV star accused of his murder. South Australia Police have been searching for the head of Julian Story, 39, after his dismembered body was found by authorities called to a unit fire at Port Lincoln on June 19. Police allege Mr Story was killed about midnight on June 17 and his head was removed during the dismemberment. Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 34, a former Beauty and the Geek contestant, has been charged with his murder after a court revoked an order suppressing her identity on Friday. A police search for Mr Story's head has spanned Port Lincoln reserves, parks, bushland, the ocean, pier and bay areas and involved state emergency service volunteers, water police, divers and local patrols. CCTV footage of Tamika Chesser But investigators on Tuesday said the intensive search had been put on hold while police turned to reviewing a significant amount of CCTV footage to find other locations of interest. Authorities are appealing for any footage the public can share with police to progress their investigation. "Police are trying to track Tamika's movements in the week of the murder, particularly between midnight on Tuesday night and the report of the fire at 3.30pm on Thursday," SA police said in an update. "Major crime detectives have released images of the clothing she was wearing during this time in the hope that it will jog people's memories." Police were releasing details of the "horrific" crime as it was vital for the family of Mr Story to be able to peacefully lay him to rest, Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said. "We know that Tamika did not drive a vehicle and regularly walked around the township of Port Lincoln," he said. "We are appealing to anyone who can help us to identify Tamika's movements to please contact police." Police found Mr Story's body after firefighters were called to a Flinders Highway property to investigate reports of a blaze. Chesser, who police said had been in a relationship with Mr Story for several months, was arrested on June 19 after Mr Story's body was found at the couple's home. She was known to walk through back streets and parks in the Port Lincoln area with her dogs. She appeared by video link in court on Friday while being held under order at a forensic mental health facility. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
7NEWS
01-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Gruesome manhunt to find missing remains suspended as police plea for more help in Port Lincoln alleged murder
A search for the missing remains of a man allegedly murdered by a former reality TV star has been paused, as police continue to appeal for public help. For nearly five days, emergency services have been on the hunt for Julian Story's missing head after his decapitated body was found on June 19. Police believe Story was killed and partially dismembered around midnight on Tuesday, June 17 — a day after his 39th birthday — and his body later set alight. Firefighters found the remains in a unit at Port Lincoln, on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, when responding to reports of a fire on June 19. Numerous areas have been searched in and around Port Lincoln including reserves, parks, bushland and the ocean around the pier and bay area, with assistance from State Emergency Service volunteers, South Australia Police (SAPOL) Water Operations Unit divers and local patrols On Tuesday, SAPOL announced the search has been 'paused' but appeals for information continue. Story's partner, Tamika Chesser, 34, who was runner-up on reality TV show Beauty And The Geek in 2010, has been charged with his murder. She is also charged with disposing of human remains to pervert the course of justice and assaulting a police officer and is due to face court again in December. Police last week pleaded with the local community to help piece together the movements of Chesser, who was reportedly seen walking around Port Lincoln about the time of the alleged murder. Police are appealing to local residents to review any CCTV or dashcam footage they have which may assist the investigation. Anyone with any information or CCTV is urged to contact the police.
