Major update amid SA Police search for Julian Story’s head in alleged Port Lincoln murder
A grim discovery in the search for a slain Port Lincoln man’s missing head has been made by local walking their dog on the same day his alleged murderer faced court.
A member of the Port Lincoln community has stumbled across what is believed to be the missing head of alleged murder victim Julian Story.
Police say the resident was walking their dog in the coastal town on Thursday morning when they made the grim discovery and promptly reported it to authorities.
Former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser, who had recently moved to Port Lincoln from Queensland, has been charged with Mr Story’s murder.
The breakthrough in the case came as Chesser, 34, fronted the Port Lincoln Magistrates Court on other matters on Thursday.
SA Police major crime boss Darren Fielke said a Port Lincoln resident located a skull in bushland east of Hindmarsh St and north of Slipway Rd, in an area known by locals as “Slipway Scrub”.
Detective Superintendent Fielke said the area had not previously been searched by police and had not, until the walker made the discovery, been a location of interest in their investigations.
The skull was unburied and in the open in an area that was “not in view of the public or nearby to any walking paths,” he said.
“The person who contacted us (on Thursday morning) was walking their dog in the area…the dog ran off into the scrub, the dog didn’t come back immediately on being called, the person…has gone in to see what was going on and that’s how these remains were discovered,” Det Supt Fielke said.
The skull will undergo forensic and scientific testing in the coming days however police are confident the remains belong to Mr Story.
The body part remained in Port Lincoln on Thursday afternoon but was expected to be transported for Adelaide for further examination.
Det Supt Fielke thanked the community member who found the remains, saying police would be taking a statement from them and checking on their welfare in due course.
He also thanked members of the wider Port Lincoln community for their assistance in the case.
Major Crime detectives descended upon the town on Thursday and launched a new search of the area in the afternoon.
They are expected to remain in the town, conducting further investigations and searches, throughout Friday.
The area in which the skull was found has been declared a crime scene and is under police guard.
Members of the public are being asked to stay away while police continue working on the case.
Det Supt Fielke said officers had contacted Mr Story’s family and informed them of the discovery.
“They’re hoping that this is Julian so they can move on and have their funeral with all of Julian’s remains,” he said.
“They’re clearly dealing with a lot but they’re happy with the information they’ve been given and how things are progressing.
“Hopefully we can give them some comfort that we have found all of the remains of Julian.”
Mr Story’s funeral is expected to be held towards the end of next week.
Police are yet to interview Chesser, saying they would speak with her “at an appropriate time”.
Footage of Chesser walking along a Port Lincoln street while carrying a bag emerged soon after the discovery of Mr Story’s body.
Det Supt Fielke said police had not ruled out that Mr Story’s head was in the bag at the time.
He also said police were yet to establish a motive for Mr Story’s alleged murder.
Meanwhile, Chesser has appeared in the Port Lincoln Magistrates Court via video link from forensic mental health facility James Nash House.
Chesser, sporting a shaved head and wearing a blue sweater, greeted Magistrate Patrick Hill with a “hello”.
Although she is facing allegations she murdered and dismembered Mr Story on June 17 this year, the appearance in court on Thursday was in relation to three separate matters.
Police allege Chesser behaved in a disorderly manner at a tobacco store on Port Lincoln’s Liverpool St and at the Port Lincoln Police Station, both on February 14, 2025.
Officers also allege she assaulted a woman on November 1 last year.
Chesser is also accused of assaulting a police officer on June 20 this year – the day after she was arrested for allegedly killing Mr Story.
Chesser’s lawyer, Justin Slater, told Mr Hill he had ordered “reports” into the charges.
“We are doing our own reports in relation to these matters,” he said.
He asked Mr Hill to adjourn matters until a charge determination had been made for Chesser’s more serious allegations and Mr Hill agreed to the request and set the next court hearing for December 18.
When asked if she understood her hearing would be adjourned, Chesser replied: “Yep”.
Mr Slater declined to comment on the charges or Chesser’s condition after the hearing.
Two neighbours briefly interacted with Chesser on the afternoon of June 19, court documents state.
“He (the witness) observed smoke coming from Unit 3,” the documents stated.
“He saw the accused (Chesser) and asked what she was doing. The accused said ‘nothing’ and then took her dogs for a walk and locked the front door. The witness concerned that smoke or fire would spread to his property filled a bucket with water and entered Unit 3 through the rear door.
“In the bathroom of the unit, he located a bundle of clothing rags and debris which was smouldering. The witness doused this and repeated this with a second bucket of water.”
A second witness called emergency services, the documents state.
“He states he arrived home about 2 or 3pm and saw smoke coming from Unit 3,” the statement reads.
“He went out the back and spoke with witness 1 or told him he had extinguished a fire in the bathroom of the unit.
“The accused had returned from her walk and was now sitting in the communal garden of the units at the rear of unit 3.
“Witness 1 called emergency services and Ambulance staff were first to arrive.”
Police entered the unit bathroom and sighted the “severely burned and disfigured” remains of Mr Story, the documents also state.
Thursday’s hearing marks the second time Chesser has fronted court, following her first appearance at Adelaide Magistrates Court last month on the murder charge.
Her case has generated widespread interest because of her glamorous former life and the brutal nature of the alleged killing.
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.
She has also posted a series of images that appear to reflect Jewish and Hindu mythology.
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Originally published as Major update amid SA Police search for Julian Story’s head in alleged Port Lincoln murder
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