Tamika Chesser: From Reality TV Fame to Murder Charges

The leap from a reality TV finale to a criminal courtroom is rarely this stark. Tamika Chesser, who finished as runner-up on Beauty and the Geek Australia in 2010, now faces charges of murdering her partner Julian Story, whose dismembered remains were found in South Australian scrubland. With her trial still months away, the case has become a chilling example of how quickly a life can turn.

Reality TV Background: Runner-up on Beauty and the Geek Australia (2010) ·
Alleged Crime: Murder and decapitation of partner Julian Story ·
Additional Charges: Assaulting a police officer, destroying human remains ·
Current Status: Remanded in custody, awaiting trial

The seven key facts of the case paint a picture of a complex investigation with multiple unsettled forensic threads.

Who was Tamika Chesser paired with on Beauty and the Geek?

Tamika Chesser’s role on the show

• Chesser was a contestant on the Australian version of Beauty and the Geek in 2010 (ABC News).
• She was paired with a “geek” contestant to complete challenges, a format that created dramatic pairings.

The pairing format of Beauty and the Geek Australia

• The show matched “beauties” (socially confident women) with “geeks” (socially awkward men) for team competitions.
• Australia’s version aired on Seven Network from 2009 to 2012.

Her journey to becoming runner-up

• Chesser and her partner reached the finale but lost to another pair.
• She did not pursue a long-term media career after the show.

Has Julian Story’s head been found?

Discovery of human remains in Port Lincoln

• Emergency services responded to a fire alarm at a Port Lincoln residence shared by Chesser and Story and found dismembered body parts (ABC News).
• Police confirmed that Story’s head had not been located as of the initial charging phase (CBS News (US news network)).

Identification of Julian Story’s body

• The remains were identified as 39-year-old Julian Story (ABC News).
• DNA evidence and a post-mortem report were still pending as of December 2025 (ABC News).

Current status of the investigation

• Police have not publicly stated whether the head was later recovered.
• Investigators are awaiting mobile-phone data from both Chesser and Story (ABC News).

Who is Julian Story?

Background of Julian Story

• Julian Story was 39 years old at the time of his death (ABC News).
• He lived in Port Lincoln, South Australia, and was in a relationship with Tamika Chesser.

His relationship with Tamika Chesser

• The couple shared a residence in Port Lincoln (ABC News).
• Details of their relationship length and dynamics have not been publicly disclosed.

Circumstances leading to his death

• South Australia Police believe Story was killed around midnight on June 17, 2025 (CBS News).
• His body was discovered after firefighters responded to a blaze at the residence (ABC News).

What are the charges against Tamika Chesser?

Murder charge

• Chesser is charged with the murder of Julian Story, an offence carrying life imprisonment under South Australian law (ABC News).

Assaulting a police officer

• She faces an additional count of assaulting a police officer, according to reports from People.

Destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice

• The most serious charge after murder is destroying human remains, which prosecutors allege she did to hinder the investigation (ABC News).

Three charges, one victim. The pattern: the prosecution must prove not only that Chesser killed Story but also that she deliberately attempted to conceal the crime.

Where is Tamika Chesser now?

Current custody location

• Chesser is held at James Nash House, a secure forensic mental health facility in Adelaide (ABC News).
• She appeared by video link in court hearings, indicating she remains in custody.

Recent court appearances

• Her first court appearance after giving birth occurred on May 19, 2026, per 9News Australia and Adelaide Now (South Australian news outlet).
• The case was adjourned in December 2025 and again in May 2026 because of the volume of outstanding forensic evidence (ABC News).

Pregnancy and birth in prison

• Chesser gave birth to a child while in custody in March 2026 (People).
• The father of the child has not been publicly identified (People).

Timeline of the Tamika Chesser murder case

• 2010: Tamika Chesser appears as a contestant on Beauty and the Geek Australia and finishes as runner-up.
• Late 2025: Julian Story is reported missing; human remains are later found in Port Lincoln scrubland after a fire alarm call.
• June 2025: Chesser is arrested and charged with murder and destroying human remains. A suppression order prevents her identification until June 27, 2025 (ABC News).
• December 2025: Case adjourned because post-mortem, DNA, mobile-phone data, and fire-scene analyses are still pending (ABC News).
• March 2026: Chesser gives birth to a child while in custody (People).
• May 19, 2026: First court appearance after childbirth; case further adjourned (9News Australia).

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Key perspectives from the media

Tamika Chesser, who was runner-up on Beauty and the Geek in 2010, stands accused of decapitating her partner Julian Story.

— News.com.au (Australian news website)

Ms Chesser is charged with the murder of 39-year-old Julian Story and one count of destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice.

— ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)

Beauty and The Geek alum Tamika Chesser has given birth behind bars, nine months after her arrest for allegedly beheading her boyfriend.

— Yahoo News (entertainment news)

The case hinges on forensic evidence that is still being processed. For the public following this story, the implication is clear: the outcome of this trial will depend on DNA, phone data, and the missing head — not on her reality TV past.

Frequently asked questions