Tamika Chesser first became a familiar face to Australian television audiences in 2010, when she appeared on the second season of Beauty and the Geek Australia and finished as runner-up alongside partner Thomas Richardson-Smith. Fifteen years later, her name resurfaced under far darker circumstances, after she was charged with the murder of her partner, Julian Story, in the South Australian coastal town of Port Lincoln.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
| Known for | Beauty and the Geek Australia contestant, 2010 |
| Victim | Julian Story, 39 |
| Location | Port Lincoln, South Australia |
| Alleged crime | Murder and destruction of human remains |
| Date | June 2025 |
| Body found | June 19, 2025 |
| Head recovered | July 31, 2025; later identified as Story’s |
| Plea | Not guilty |
| Mental health | Defence is seeking a mental-fitness investigation |
| Current custody | James Nash House, secure forensic mental-health facility |
| Latest court update | August 11, 2026 |
| Next step | Supreme Court proceedings, with a November 2026 appearance scheduled |
| Convicted? | No case remains before the courts |
Who Is Tamika Chesser?
Before the case that made international headlines, Chesser worked in modelling and appeared in several small entertainment projects, including a 2014 acting credit. She had relocated to Port Lincoln from Queensland not long before the events that led to her arrest, according to police.
What Police Allege Happened
Authorities allege Julian Story was killed at his Port Lincoln unit around midnight on June 17, 2025. His body was not discovered until two days later, on June 19, when emergency crews responded to a report of a fire at the property on Flinders Highway. Inside, they found Story’s body severely burned and dismembered.
A neighbor later told investigators they had seen smoke coming from the unit and encountered Chesser outside shortly before the fire was found. According to court documents, she gave a brief answer before walking away with her dogs and locking the door. When police arrived, they found her in the backyard in what officers described as an unresponsive, disoriented state, and took her into custody.
Chesser was formally charged with murder, along with destroying or interfering with human remains to pervert the course of justice.
The Search For Julian Story’s Head
One of the most widely reported details of the case was that investigators could not immediately locate Story’s head. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke publicly appealed for the community’s help in June 2025, and police, alongside State Emergency Service volunteers, spent weeks combing bushland, reserves and coastal areas around Port Lincoln.
Investigators also released CCTV images of a woman they identified as Chesser walking through town in dark clothing, in hopes that residents with dashcam or security footage could help reconstruct her movements between June 17 and June 19.
The breakthrough came more than a month later. On July 31, 2025, a member of the public walking their dog discovered what appeared to be a human skull in scrubland near Port Lincoln’s Parnkalla Trail. By September, forensic testing confirmed the remains belonged to Julian Story, allowing his family to finally lay him to rest.
The Relationship Between Chesser And Story
Police confirmed the pair were in a domestic relationship and living together at the time of Story’s death. Investigators noted early on that they had not established a clear motive, and Fielke specifically cautioned that the relationship itself should not be assumed to be one. That detail remains unresolved publicly more than a year on.
Mental Health Questions In The Case
From the outset, Chesser was held not in a standard prison but at James Nash House, a secure forensic mental health facility in Adelaide. That detail has taken on greater significance as the case has progressed.
At an August 11, 2026 hearing, Chesser pleaded not guilty to both charges. Her lawyer told the Adelaide Magistrates Court that her mental competence was under investigation, and the defense is now seeking what’s known as a Part 8A inquiry in the South Australian Supreme Court, a process used to determine whether a defendant is mentally fit to stand trial. It’s an important distinction: Chesser has not been declared unfit or legally incompetent. That determination has not yet been made by any court.
Pregnancy And Birth While In Custody
In a development that added another layer to the case, it emerged that Chesser was already pregnant at the time of her arrest. She gave birth in early 2026 while still detained at James Nash House, and the child was subsequently placed in the care of her family. The identity of the child’s father has not been publicly confirmed, and since the child has no public role in the case, that detail remains, and should remain, private.
Where The Case Stands Now
The proceedings have moved slowly, largely due to the volume of forensic evidence involved, including post-mortem findings, DNA analysis, fire investigation results and blood-pattern evidence. Chesser’s not guilty pleas in August 2026 sent the matter toward the Supreme Court, with her next appearance scheduled for November 2, 2026.
It’s worth emphasizing that this remains an active legal case. Chesser has denied the charges, and no court has yet determined her guilt. What’s alleged by police and prosecutors has not been tested at trial.
Is Tamika Chesser the same person from Beauty and the Geek Australia?
Yes. She appeared on the show’s second season in 2010 and finished as runner-up.
What is Tamika Chesser charged with?
She’s charged with the murder of her partner, Julian Story, and with destroying his remains to pervert the course of justice.
Has Tamika Chesser been convicted?
No. She has pleaded not guilty to both charges, and the case is still working through the South Australian court system.
Why was Julian Story’s head missing?
Police were initially unable to locate it after the alleged killing. It was found by a member of the public in scrubland more than a month later and confirmed through forensic testing.
Where is Tamika Chesser being held?
She has been detained at James Nash House, a secure forensic mental health facility in Adelaide, since her arrest.
When is Tamika Chesser’s next court date?
Her next scheduled Supreme Court appearance is November 2, 2026.
This is an ongoing legal matter. Chesser has pleaded not guilty, and allegations referenced in this article are not established facts unless and until they are proven in court.
Discover also: Crime Stories
Source: ABC News Australia
M Adnan Akram is the founder and lead writer at Back Casting Room, where he covers celebrity biographies, family histories, and the lesser-known figures behind well-known names. His work focuses on separating verified public information from speculation, drawing on publicly available records, interviews, and credible reporting to build accurate, well-researched profiles.
With a particular interest in entertainment and pop culture, Adnan writes about everything from celebrity net worth breakdowns to the private individuals connected to famous names, the spouses, family members, and background figures whose stories rarely get told in full.
At Back Casting Room, the goal is straightforward: give readers accurate, well-sourced information without the clickbait or unverified claims that often surround celebrity-adjacent stories.
