Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@tamikachesser / South Australian Police
Topics: Australia, Crime, Mental Health, News, True crime
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Australia, Crime, Mental Health, News, True crime
A reality TV star has been charged with her murder of her boyfriend.
On June 17, emergency services responded to reports of a small fire at an apartment in the coastal city of Port Lincoln, southern Australia.
When they arrived at the scene, they found the burnt and dismembered remains of 39-year-old Julian Story.
48 hours later, Tamika Sueann-Rose Chesser was arrested and charged for Story's murder. Chesser, a model and actress, is a former contestant on Beauty and the Geek Australia. She was the runner-up on the 2010 season of the reality TV show.
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Apparently, Chesser was discovered 'in a catatonic and unresponsive state' in the backyard of the property when law enforcement arrived at the scene, The Telegraph reports. Story was decapitated and the location of his head remains unknown, say police.
South Australia Police said in a statement Friday, per NDTV: "It was a confronting scene for police and emergency services personnel as Julian's body had been dismembered. Julian's head had been removed during the dismemberment and, despite extensive searches, has not yet been located."
It's thought the killing took place around midnight on June 17.
Police are appealing to the public for additional information and footage they may have on their dash cams or home surveillance that may help them in their investigation.
"I can only imagine, and I want you to imagine, the grief this news is causing Julian's family," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke.
He added: "Recovering Julian's head to return it to his family so they can have a peaceful outcome, have a funeral and lay him to rest is a really important aspect for us."
Fielke went on to say that there is currently no obvious motive for Story's murder.
Chesser appeared in court on Friday via video link and was denied bail. She first appeared last week and is being held under a mental health detention order, says The Telegraph.
She has a committal hearing (where a judge will decide if there is enough evidence to send Chesser to trial) set for December.
According to Chesser's sister, Kiya-May Chesser, the ex reality TV star is suffering with mental psychosis.
"Please report how my sister is in a mental psychosis," she told Daily Mail Australia. "This is not her... She would never do these things."
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Or if you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].