Latest news with #DarrenFielke
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
SA Police call off search for missing head of Julian Story allegedly killed by Tamika Chesser
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. 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. 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. 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
New effort to find man's head after TV star charged
Police searching for a man's decapitated head have identified several key locations of interest near a coastal town. Authorities have been unable to find the entire remains of Julian Story, 39, after his dismembered body was discovered at Port Lincoln in South Australia on June 19. Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 34, a former Beauty and the Geek contestant, has been charged with his murder. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said information received by the investigation team coupled with the use of specialist equipment has identified several additional search sites around Port Lincoln. "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," he said in a statement on Tuesday. Police searching 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. 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. 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. Authorities are appealing for video from members of the public that might help the police investigation. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Discovered vehicle could help solve 25-year-old cold case
Police divers scouring a river bed have found a vehicle that could be linked to the suspected murder of a 15-year-old girl who disappeared 25 years ago. Melissa Trussell and her mother Rosemary Brown, 33, were last seen leaving their home in the northern Adelaide suburb of Blair Athol about 2.30am on May 13, 2000. Rosemary's body was located in the Garden Island mangroves weeks later but Melissa's body was never found. They had a breakthrough when locating a vehicle that could be linked to the case. A section of the front grille was retrieved which could help with identification of the vehicle. Officers are investigating whether the vehicle is connected to the murder of the mother and the suspected killing of the teenager. Attempts might be made to recover the vehicle for further examination with the search to continue for another day, police said. Divers scoured a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the island's northern side. 'This search really does show to everyone that we never give up trying to find answers to those investigations,' Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters. Det Fielke did not know why the area near Garden Island was not searched 25 years ago but a cold case review identified it as a place for further investigation. A number of exhibits obtained in the initial investigation have been resubmitted for forensic testing to see if modern technology might result in new leads. Police believe Melissa and her mother were murdered in 2000, but no one has been charged, or any motive revealed. Det Fielke hopes someone would come forward and explain what happened to the pair. 'Twenty-five years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people's allegiances change over time, people forget about it, some people don't forget about it,' he said. 'We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough.' 'A parent shouldn't outlive their child ... and for a long time Melissa's disappearance has messed me up,' he said. 'I'm hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case.' A reward of $1million is available to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of a suspect in Melissa's murder or the recovery of her remains. Up to $200,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for Rosemary's murder.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Fresh search launched for teen missing for decades
Police divers are scouring a river bed in the hopes of uncovering the remains of a 15-year-old girl believed to have been murdered more than two decades ago. Melissa Trussell and her mother Rosemary Brown, 33, were last seen leaving their South Australian home at Blair Athol about 2.30am on May 13, 2000. Rosemary's body was located in the Garden Island mangroves weeks later but Melissa's body was never found. Police launched a fresh search on Friday in the Port River estuary at Garden Island in the hopes of uncovering Melissa's remains to provide her family with closure. Divers are scouring a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the island's northern side. "This search really does show to everyone that we never give up trying to find answers to those investigations," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters. "We are hopeful that we will find Melissa's remains today, but we are not sure that we will." Det Fielke did not know why the particular area near Garden Island had never been searched 25 years ago but a cold case review identified it as a place for further investigations. A number of exhibits obtained in the initial investigation have been resubmitted for forensic testing to see if modern technology might result in new leads. Police believe Melissa and her mother were murdered in 2000, but no one has ever been charged, nor has any motive been revealed. Det Fielke was still hopeful someone would come forward and explain what really happened to the pair. "Twenty-five years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people's allegiances change over time, people forget about it, some people don't forget about it," he said. "We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough." Melissa's father Barry Trussell earlier this month issued a plea for information to help provide closure on the 25th anniversary of Rosemary's body being found. "A parent shouldn't outlive their child … and for a long time (Melissa's disappearance) has messed me up," he said. "I'm hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case." A reward of $1 million is available to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of a suspect in Melissa's murder or the recovery of her remains. Up to $200,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for Rosemary's murder.
