Major update in Beauty and the Geek alleged murder case
Parts of Julian Story's burned and dismembered body were found inside a Port Lincoln unit last month but his head has never been found.
Police believe Ms Chesser, 34, murdered him around midnight on June 17 and then cut up his body and set it on fire two days later.
A search for Mr Story's head was called off on July 1, days after Ms Chesser was charged with his murder, after searches of bushland, ocean and parks around the area were unsuccessful.
Now, armed with fresh leads, police have relaunched their search.
'Detectives from major crime investigation branch and local Eyre Western police, with the assistance of local support services will conduct further searches at several locations over the coming days to locate the missing remains of murder victim Julian Story,' a police statement read.
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said information received by the investigation team coupled with the use of specialist equipment had identified several additional search sites in and around Port Lincoln.
'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.'
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Courier-Mail
6 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Police call off search for head of Tamika Chesser partner Julian Story
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. South Australian Police have again suspended their search for the missing head of Julian Story, who was allegedly murdered by his former reality TV star girlfriend Tamika Chesser. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke announced on Thursday that searchers had failed to locate Mr Story's head, more than a month after his body was found at the couple's Port Lincoln unit about midnight on June 17. 'Unfortunately, we have still not been able to locate the missing remains of Julian Story,' he said. Thursday's announcement marks the second suspension of the search for Mr Story's remains. Immediately after the alleged murder, the police scoured a number of parks and reserves around Port Lincoln, Detective Fielke said, and also the foreshore and waterways directly in front of the township. SA Police allege Julian Story was murdered about midnight on June 17. Picture: Supplied Former Beauty and the Geek reality show runner-up Tamika Chesser has been charged with Mr Story's murder. Picture: Supplied After reviewing hours of CCTV footage and exploiting specialist equipment, the police identified new search areas this week, including scrubland around the Happy Valley Cemetery in the town and the Winter Hill Lookout. The police said they had located some 'items of interest' from the cemetery, including a T-shirt with Elvis printed on it, a wristband and a purple drink bottle. 'Those items have all been seized and have been put into forensics for further analysis,' Detective Fielke said. 'At this stage, we don't have the results of that testing yet.' But the detective confirmed that 'general searching' for Mr Story's remains had now ended. 'We've exhausted all the areas of interest that have been made known to us,' Detective Fielke said 'We will however go back and search if we receive specific information about where Julian's remains might be. 'But in terms of general searching in Port Lincoln, that has now stopped.' Detective Fielke said the police had been in contacted with Mr Story's family, and said they were happy with how the police and the community had helped them through the tragic development. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said the police had suspended their search for Julian Story's remains in Port Lincoln. Picture: NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe It is expected the family will hold a funeral for Mr Story on August 6. 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. At an earlier press conference, Detective Fielke said the cause of death is still being investigated 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 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. Tamika Chesser walks past a petrol station in Port Lincoln. The police have reviewed several hours of CCTV footage to try and piece together what happened in the aftermath of the alleged killing. Picture: Supplied Ms Chesser has been charged with murder, destroying human remains, and assaulting a police officer. She is currently on remand at James Nash House, a psychiatric facility. On Thursday, Detective Fielke confirmed police had not yet spoken with Ms Chesser about the alleged murder or Mr Story's remains. 'We're not in a position yet to be able to talk to Tamika,' he said. 'We don't have the opportunity at this point of time to interview her. 'When we do, we will, and we're hopeful that she will be able to help us with some information.' Detective Fielke added he did not believe anybody in the town was 'holding out' information from the police. Ms Chesser 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. Originally published as SA Police call off search for missing head of Julian Story allegedly killed by Tamika Chesser
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
Search for man's head called off after TV star charged
A search for a man's decapitated head near a coastal town has been called off despite police finding "items of interest". Authorities have been unable to find the entire remains of Julian Story, 39, after his dismembered body was discovered at Port Lincoln, South Australia, on June 19. Former Beauty and the Geek reality TV contestant Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 34, has been charged with his murder. Police found "several items of interest" on Wednesday after information received by investigators coupled with the use of specialist equipment identified several additional search sites around Port Lincoln. However, authorities did not find human remains and on Thursday called off the search to allow Mr Story's family to move on and make funeral arrangements. "At this point in time, there will be no more searching undertaken in Port Lincoln for the missing remains of Julian," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters. "We have exhausted all the areas of interest that have been made known to us in relation to this investigation." A T-shirt, drink bottle and wristband were reportedly the "items of interest" discovered on Wednesday about a kilometre from the Flinders Highway property where Mr Story was discovered. Det Fielke said they were sent for forensic testing. "It was just a very unusual thing to find in that location." However, police made the decision to call off the search, with Det Fielke saying Mr Story's family had been "completely understanding" about the decision. "They are also very keen to lay Julian to rest and have his funeral so they can start to move on," he said. "We will, however, go back and search if we receive specific information about where Julian's remains might be. "But in terms of general searching in Port Lincoln, that has now stopped." Police found Mr Story's body after firefighters were called to the Flinders Highway property at Port Lincoln following 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 appeared in court in June via video link from psychiatric facility James Nash House. Det Fielke said police had not been able to interview Chesser. Previous searches were paused on July 1 as police reviewed CCTV footage to pinpoint the movements of the ex-reality TV star accused of his murder. She was known to walk through back streets and parks in the Port Lincoln area with her dogs. Authorities are appealing for anyone with information or footage that might help the police investigation. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
ABC News
9 hours ago
- ABC News
Police call off search for Julian Story's remains, but divers continue Melissa Trussell investigation
SA Police has provided an update on separate searches for the remains of two suspected murder victims believed to have been killed decades apart. Warning: This story contains content some readers may find distressing. Searches around the Port Lincoln area for the missing remains of 39-year-old Julian Story, whose dismembered body was found on June 19, have been called off — a move that will allow his family to make preparations for his funeral. In a separate matter, divers have returned to waters off Garden Island in Adelaide's north-west to conduct further investigations in relation to the cold case disappearance of teenager Melissa Trussell and a submerged vehicle that could be linked to her suspected murder. SA Police's Major Crime Investigation Branch today issued a public update on the state of both cases. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said police had "exhausted all the areas of interest" that had been identified in relation to the missing remains of Mr Story. He said police had kept in close contact with Mr Story's family, who had been "completely understanding" about the decision to end the search. "They are also very keen to lay Julian to rest and have his funeral so they can start to move on. If we ultimately provide or locate remains down the track they're aware of how that might reinvigorate their grief. "We will, however, go back and search if we receive specific information about where Julian's remains might be — but in terms of general searching in Port Lincoln, that has now stopped." Mr Story's 34-year-old partner — former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser — has been charged with his murder, and appeared in court last month. Superintendent Fielke said it remained unclear when police would be able to interview her. "We're not in a position yet to be able to talk to Tamika. She's currently detained in James Nash House and we don't have the opportunity at this point in time to interview her," he said. Police on Wednesday told the ABC that they had found an Elvis T-shirt, a drink bottle and a wristband in scrubland. Superintendent Fielke said those items were potentially linked to the case and had been seized, including for potential DNA testing, to determine whether there was a connection to Mr Story's alleged murder. "It was just a very unusual thing to find in that location. What we do know is that both Tamika and Julian were Elvis fans, which kind of sparked our interest a little bit more given what was on the T-shirt," he said. "That's why all those items have been seized for further testing." Meanwhile, police have continued to conduct underwater searches for the remains of 15-year-old Melissa Trussell, who is believed to have been killed in a suspected double murder in Adelaide's north 25 years ago. Melissa and her 33-year-old mother Rosemary Brown were last seen in Blair Athol about 2:30am on Saturday, May 13, 2000. Ms Brown's body was found weeks later in mangroves at Garden Island in Adelaide's north-west, but Melissa's body has never been found and police believe she was also murdered. "We're conducting a very active investigation in relation to Melissa's disappearance and Rosemary's murder," Superintendent Fielke said. Last week, police launched a new search for the body of the 15-year-old in a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves. Police divers returned to Garden Island today. A submerged vehicle found towards the southern end of the island has been described as being "of interest to the investigation" at this point in time. But Superintendent Fielke said further work, including potentially lifting it to the surface, would have to be conducted to determine whether it was connected to the case. "Divers will be back there periodically for the next few weeks," he said. "Trying to ascertain exactly what that vehicle is will have its challenges. The vehicle has been described as being "not structurally very sound" and "submerged in quite a deep volume of water". "We're trying to establish make, year, model of that vehicle," he said. Melissa's father Barry Trussell and her sister Kayla this month spoke of their need to secure justice for the 15-year-old, as well as answers about how she disappeared. "Any little bit of information you've got can help, no matter how small — it can be what breaks the case," he said. Earlier this year, SA Police released a new image of Melissa in a bid to prompt public interest in the unsolved crime. According to Crime Stoppers SA, Rosemary was evicted from the Windsor Gardens Caravan Park on May 3, 2000 and moved around in the days before her disappearance. Her handbag was found in Stirling Street at Northfield at the time of her disappearance, but it was not handed into police until May 23 after a public appeal about the missing mother and daughter. Ms Brown's body was discovered by two siblings, Sarah and James Fidock, who had gone to Garden Island to fish with their father. The sister and brother recently spoke out about their wish for grieving relatives. "There's a family that don't know where she is and who need her home," Sarah said. "We do hope that they find the missing piece of this, and I hope they do get closure."
