Beauty and the Geek contestant charged with partner's murder

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 01:31 · Archive

A former Beauty and the Geek contestant has appeared in court charged with murdering and dismembering her partner.

Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 36, appeared via video link in the South Australian Supreme Court on Monday to be arraigned on charges of murdering her partner Julian Story, 39, and destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice. She pleaded not guilty to both charges. Chesser, a runner-up on Beauty and the Geek in 2010, is alleged to have decapitated Mr Story and disposed of his body in June 2025. His dismembered body was discovered at the couple's home at Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula after firefighters were called to investigate a fire. Major Crime detectives have appealed for help to find Mr Story's head and released images and video of a woman they allege was Chesser walking on Port Lincoln streets after his death, wearing a black headscarf and black full-body coverings and carrying a bag.

Chesser will mount a mental health defence. A medical report received by prosecutors from the defence found her to be unfit and provisionally mentally incompetent to have committed the offences. Justice Adam Kimber ordered further reports on her mental competence and fitness to stand trial. Chesser is being held in psychiatric facility James Nash House on a mental health detention order. She was reported to have been pregnant at the time of her arrest and gave birth in early 2026.

How it is being reported

• Beheading accused mounts mental health defenceA former Beauty and the Geek contestant has appeared in court in a wheelchair as she was arraigned on charges of murdering and dismembering her partner.Perth Now · 2 Nov, 01:21
• Beheading accused mounts mental health defenceA former Beauty and the Geek contestant has appeared in court in a wheelchair as she was arraigned on charges of murdering and dismembering her partner.The West Australian · 2 Nov, 01:21

In this story: Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser · Julian Story · Port Lincoln · South Australian Supreme Court · Beauty and the Geek · James Nash House

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