Tamika Chesser, former Beauty and the Geek star, allegedly murdered ex and tried to burn down unit, court documents say

The head of a man allegedly murdered by a former reality TV star is missing, with police issuing a desperate plea to the public to help find it.

Police have revealed the man allegedly murdered by a former reality TV star turned adult content creator was burned and “dismembered” – with the public now asked to help find the slain man’s head.

Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 34, has been charged with one count each of murder and destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice after allegedly killing her partner Julian Story last Thursday.

According to court records, she has also since been charged with one count of assaulting police.

The former reality TV star, who was a runner up in the 2010 season of Beauty and the Geek, was arrested in her Port Lincoln home last week and taken to hospital where she was detained under a mental health order.

On Friday, a secrecy order prohibiting the publication of the circumstances of the man’s death, details of the investigation, her identity, as well as her alleged victim’s identity, was lifted by the Adelaide Magistrates Court, meaning the details of her alleged crimes can now be reported.

Beauty and the Geek reality show runner-up Tamika Chesser. Picture: Facebook

The 34-year-old has been charged with murder, destroying human remains and assaulting police. Picture: Instagram

At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke asked members of the Port Lincoln community to help find Mr Story’s missing remains. 

“We know that after his alleged murder, Julian’s body was dismembered and while I won’t provide any further detail about that at this time, I can tragically say that we have not recovered the head of Julian Story,” Superintendent Fielke said.

He said the revelation had caused Mr Story’s family an enormous amount of grief, but that releasing the detail to the public was crucial to help them recover all of his remains, and lay him to rest.

“It is crucial that we locate Julian’s head.”

Police said they believe the alleged murder occurred about midnight on Tuesday June 17, with Major Crime detectives still in Port Lincoln investigating the gruesome incident.

“I am asking the local community, or people who may know Julian or Tamika, to contact us. I’m appealing to local residents to review CCTV or dashcam footage.”

He said police were not yet sure how long Tamika had been living in Port Lincoln, but that she had only been with Julian for “a few months”.

In court documents released to The Advertiser, police allege Mr Story’s remains were found in a disfigured state on the bathroom floor.

About 1.30pm on June 19, a resident in a neighbouring unit observed smoke coming from Ms Chesser’s home. He has told police he saw her leaving the unit and asked what she was doing.

“Nothing,” she allegedly responded to him, before leaving to take her dogs for a walk.

The documents claim the neighbour then, after becoming concerned at the smoke arising from the next door unit, filled a bucket with water and entered the home through the back door.

“In the bathroom of the unit, he located a bundle of clothing rags and debris, which was smouldering,” the document states.

“The witness doused this and repeated this with a second bucket of water.”

He then went home and called emergency services.

Police officers who arrived at the home after firefighters had put out the blaze said, according to the court documents, they entered the premises, and found remains.

Major Crime detectives at the scene in Port Lincoln. Picture: Robert Lang

“Once the scene was secure and safe, police entered the premises and in the bathroom, sighted the deceased’s remains which were severely burned and disfigured,” the document reads.

Alleged Port Lincoln murderer and former reality TV star Tamika Chesser. Picture Supplied

“The accused was seated in a garden chair in the rear yard adjacent to the unit in a catatonic and unresponsive state at this time.

At 4.27pm, the accused was arrested. Due to her presentation, she was immediately conveyed to the Port Lincoln Hospital.”

At her first hearing, Ms Chesser appeared over the phone, did not apply for bail, and was remanded under a mental health order.

Appearing in court again on Friday for a suppression review hearing, Ms Chesser, who now has a shaved head, appeared via video link from James Nash House – a forensic mental health facility.

She will return to court in December.