SA Police believed to have found head of Tamika Chesser's alleged murder victim Julian Story

The Australian

7 days ago

Police believe they have found the head of alleged murder victim Julian Story.
The grisly discovery comes weeks after his girlfriend and former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser allegedly murdered him and removed his head at the pair's unit in Port Lincoln, South Australia.
South Australian Police and SES volunteers spent more than a week fanning out across the scrubland and waters around Port Lincoln searching for Mr Story's head in the aftermath of the brutal alleged killing in June.
The search was paused on July 1 but resumed last week, with police identifying several additional search sites in and around Port Lincoln.
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke made the announcement about the grim discovery at a press conference on Thursday.
'Earlier today, police received info from a member of the public in Port Lincoln they have located in a scrub what appeared to be a human skull,' he said.
'Preliminary investigations and phone calls to forensic science centre (indicate) the remains are most likely human, and I believe they are the remains of Julian Story.
'To confirm this, those remains will be subject to further testing over the coming days.
'Those remains currently remain in Port Lincoln.'
Mr Story's family were contacted and updated on next steps, the Superintendent said.
'Hopefully we can give them some comfort that we have found all the remains of Julian.'
A dog walker made the discovery, Superintendent Fielke said.
'There are some walking tracks through there. My understanding is the person who contacted us today was walking their dog in the area. The dog ran off into the scrub, it didn't come back when called.
The person went into the scrub to find the dog, and discovered the skull off the walking track.
'They had to walk into the scrub area to find it (the skull). (The remains) were not buried. They were quite out in the open.'
Port Lincoln local Katie, speaking with NewsWire, said she felt 'relieved' by the news.
'I'm relieved for the family, it's a bit of closure for them,' she said.
'But I feel devastated for the person that found it.'
Katie's friend, who did not wished to be named, said she was no longer worried she would stumble across the head.
The pair said they expected the discovery to reignite conversation and interest in the horrific incident among locals.
'It's going to go mental,' Katie said.
Greg, a Port Lincoln local, said earlier in the day locals in the town discussed the case regularly.
'It was a gruesome bloody incident,' he said.
'This town, we've never had anything like that before.'
Police allege Ms Chesser murdered Mr Story at about midnight on June 17.
Mr Story's body was found on the afternoon of June 19 following a small fire at the unit and Ms Chesser was arrested in the yard of the home.
Mr Story was a Port Lincoln local, while Ms Chesser had only recently moved to the area from Queensland.
The cause of death is still being investigated, he added, and a motive remains unknown.
'We know they were in a relationship together, and I'm not suggesting that is a motive, but it is something that is being explored,' Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said in an update from June.
Police allege Ms Chesser was captured on CCTV walking with a bag, dogs, and dressed in heavy clothing in the hours after Mr Story's death.
Ms Chesser has been charged with murder, destroying human remains, and assaulting a police officer.
The assault matter will be heard at Port Lincoln Magistrates Court on July 31, while the murder case is booked to appear in court in December.
Ms Chesser is currently being held at psychiatric facility James Nash House.
She starred in the second series of the hit reality TV show Beauty and the Geek in 2010, finishing in second place.
She has also worked as a model for a range of brands including Target and appeared in men's magazines including Ralph and FHM, a profile for her on Star Now states.
Her Instagram and Facebook social media profiles are filled with racy and glamorous images.
She has also posted a series of images that appear to reflect Jewish and Hindu mythology.
More to come.
Duncan Evans is a reporter for News Corp's NewsWire service, based in Adelaide. Before NewsWire, he worked as a resources and politics reporter for The Daily Mercury in Mackay, Queensland and as a reporter at CQ Today, an independent newspaper based in Rockhampton. He was raised in Emerald and Brisbane and studied English Literature and American Studies at the University of Sydney. He began his career in journalism working for the Jakarta Post in Indonesia for over two years as an editor, translator and writer. He is fluent in Indonesian. Business Breaking News
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