Latest news with #PortLincoln
ABC News
6 days 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."
News.com.au
6 days 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.
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Family of man allegedly murdered and dismembered by reality TV star make a huge call
A fresh search for the remains of Port Lincoln man Julian Story has failed to uncover his body, but police say several 'items of interest' have been found. The 39-year-old was allegedly murdered by his partner, former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser, 34, at their Port Lincoln home on June 17. Investigators are still hunting for Story's alleged decapitated head, which remains a key focus of the search. While the investigation continues, Story's family have revealed details of his funeral, which will be held on August 7. South Australian Police said on Wednesday that Major Crime detectives, the STAR Group and Eyre Western officers scoured multiple locations around Port Lincoln after new intelligence identified fresh search zones. 'Specialist equipment has been used in the hopes authorities can locate Mr Story's remains and give his family closure,' Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said. The operation turned up at least three items, a T-shirt, a drink bottle and a wristband, near the town's cemetery, according to 10 News First. A second location was later searched. While the items will undergo forensic testing, police said there was still no trace of human remains. Julian Story's family meanwhile is preparing to lay him to rest. Williams Funeral Services in Port Lincoln announced details of a memorial service for the 39-year-old. 'Taken from us on Tuesday June 17, 2025,' the funeral notice reads. 'Aged 39 years. Dearly loved son of David and Cathie. Stepson of Pam. Much loved by all his aunties, uncles and cousins.' The service will be held next Wednesday at St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Port Lincoln. Instead of flowers, the family is encouraging donations to a local mental health charity. 'No flowers by request, in lieu of floral tributes, a donation in Julian's memory can be made to Mentally Fit EP. Envelopes will be available at the Church,' the notice reads. It also confirmed that 'a private cremation has taken place.' Mr Story, 39, was allegedly murdered and dismembered by his partner, former Beauty and the Geek contestant and OnlyFans creator Tamika Chesser, on June 17 at their Flinders Highway unit. She has been charged with murder and with interfering with human remains to pervert the course of justice. In a chilling detail, police previously revealed Mr Story's head was missing, and extensive ground and water searches had so far failed to recover any part of his body. In the days after the alleged murder, a neighbour told The Advertiser he had run into Mr Story's unit to extinguish what he thought was a smouldering fire, only to learn from police later that it was his remains. Authorities have since scoured bushland, parks, reserves, and the popular Parnkalla Trail for evidence. Specialist divers also searched Boston Bay, assisted by SES volunteers, but without success. Police said the search would continue in the coming days.
ABC News
23-07-2025
- ABC News
Police seize items for testing during Port Lincoln search for remains of alleged murder victim Julian Story
South Australian Police have seized several items in the resumed search for the remains of Port Lincoln man Julian Story. Warning: This story contains details of an alleged crime that may be distressing to some readers. Major Crime investigators, STAR Group and local police spent Wednesday morning searching Happy Valley cemetery and the dense scrubland nearby, around a kilometre from the Flinders Highway property where Mr Story's body was found in June. The 39-year-old's beheaded and dismembered body was found on June 19, but searches have so far failed to find the local man's head. The search was paused on July 1, but police decided to resume their efforts on Tuesday following the development of new "investigational leads". Police have told the ABC that they seized an Elvis T-shirt, a drink bottle and a wristband from the scrubland today. In a statement, SAPOL said police found "several items of interest". "Further enquiries and forensic examination will be conducted to determine if they are connected with the murder investigation," it said. "No human remains have been located at this time. "Further enquiries will continue on Thursday." After the scrublands and cemetery, police continued their search in the area around Winter Hill lookout before concluding for the day. Wednesday's search follows the excavation of a small area off the Lincoln Highway on Tuesday. Former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser, 34, was charged with the alleged murder of her partner Mr Story, and appeared in court last month. Police believe Mr Story died sometime around midnight on Tuesday, June 17.
ABC News
22-07-2025
- ABC News
Search resumes for remains of alleged murdered Port Lincoln man Julian Story
South Australian Police are set to resume the search for the missing remains of alleged murder victim Julian Story, following the development of new "investigational leads". Warning: This story contains details of an alleged crime that some readers may find distressing. Port Lincoln woman and former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser, 34, was charged with the alleged murder of her partner Mr Story and appeared in court last month. Mr Story's beheaded and dismembered body was found by emergency services on Thursday, June 19. SAPOL believe the 39-year-old died sometime around midnight on Tuesday, June 17. In the days following the discovery of Mr Story's body, major crime detectives, local police and emergency services all conducted extensive searches around Port Lincoln for his unrecovered head, without success. That search was paused on July 1, but will now reopen. "Police have reviewed a significant amount of CCTV footage since the incident which has provided a number of investigational leads," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said. "We appreciate the ongoing assistance the community of Port Lincoln has provided throughout the investigation. "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." On Tuesday afternoon SAPOL were seen using an excavator to clear dense bamboo at a site near the Lincoln Highway, but police have not commented on whether this is related to their investigation or where they plan to search. The Flinders Highway property where the murder is alleged to have taken place is located about 800 metres uphill from Boston Bay's waters. Early searches were conducted around neighbouring streets and in the areas surrounding the nearby Axel Stenross boat ramp. Emergency services assisted police in searching reserves, parks, bushland and the ocean around the pier and bay area. Authorities earlier released footage of the accused, Tamika Chesser, seeking to track her movements between midnight on June 17 and the discovery of Mr Story's body around 3:30pm two days later. Mr Story was a Port Lincoln local, whose family are prominent volunteers in the community. The grisly nature of the alleged crime has generated significant media interest — both locally and abroad. Ms Chesser appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on June 27, via video link from James Nash House psychiatric facility. She is yet to enter a plea and will next front court in December.
