Tamika Chesser, a former reality TV contestant once known for her beauty and charisma on Beauty and the Geek Australia, is now at the center of one of South Australia’s most disturbing murder cases in recent memory. The 34-year-old has been charged with murdering and dismembering her boyfriend, 39-year-old Julian Story, whose decapitated body was discovered in their Port Lincoln apartment in June.
Police were first alerted to the scene after neighbors noticed smoke coming from the unit. Inside, they found smoldering rags in the bathroom — and, beneath them, charred and disfigured human remains later identified as Story’s. The most chilling detail: his head was missing.
Authorities say Chesser, who appeared catatonic when police arrived, remained silent and unresponsive. She was later charged with murder while under observation at a secure mental health facility. Police believe Story was killed around midnight on June 17, two days before the fire was reported. According to witnesses, Chesser was seen calmly locking the door and walking her dogs shortly after the fire began.
A lengthy search for the missing head led police through bushland, piers, and underwater sites, but for weeks, no further remains were found. That changed on July 30, when a local man walking his dog stumbled upon what appeared to be a human skull hidden in dense scrub. Police later confirmed the remains were likely Story’s and were transported to Adelaide for forensic testing.
The case has garnered national attention due to its brutality — and Chesser’s unexpected fall from grace. She first rose to public attention in 2010 as a contestant on the Australian edition of Beauty and the Geek, where she reached the season finale. In the years following her reality TV fame, Chesser worked as a model and launched an OnlyFans account before fading from the spotlight.
Police have since released CCTV footage of Chesser walking her dogs on the night of the alleged murder, hoping to trace her movements and gather more evidence. Items believed to belong to Story — including an Elvis Presley T-shirt and a drink bottle — were later found in nearby underbrush and are undergoing DNA testing.
Forensic experts suggest that dismemberment may have been an attempt to conceal evidence. The presence of fire and chemical agents, investigators say, raises questions about whether there was a deliberate effort to destroy the body.
Story’s family, still reeling from the trauma, has remained in close contact with police throughout the investigation. Authorities say they are hopeful that identifying and recovering all of Story’s remains will allow his loved ones to find closure and hold a proper funeral.
Chesser is scheduled to return to court in December.
