What started as an ordinary dog walk in Port Lincoln took a horrifying turn when a local resident stumbled upon something no one ever hopes to find—a human skull lying in the open scrubland.
That skull is now believed to belong to 39-year-old Julian Story, the man allegedly murdered and dismembered by his partner, Tamika Chesser, a former contestant on Beauty and the Geek.
The gruesome case has shocked the local community and continues to unravel with chilling new details.
A Murder Case That Shook a Small Town
Back in June, Julian Story’s dismembered body was discovered in the bathroom of the couple’s home.
But one key piece had been missing—his head.
For weeks, police have been combing through bushland, hoping to locate it and provide some kind of closure to his grieving family.
Now, that painful search may be over.
How the Skull Was Found
South Australia Police’s Major Crime boss, Darren Fielke, gave a press briefing where he revealed that the discovery was made completely by chance.
A local was out walking their dog through one of the area’s scrub trails when the dog darted off and wouldn’t return.
As the owner followed it into the undergrowth, they came across what appeared to be a human skull, lying completely exposed.
“It wasn’t buried,” Fielke explained. “It was just lying there out in the open.”
The person immediately contacted police.
Forensic Testing Underway
While initial assessments from forensic experts suggest the skull is likely human—and probably belongs to Julian Story—final confirmation will come after thorough forensic testing in the coming days.
Fielke said that Julian’s family has been informed of the discovery and are being kept updated throughout the process.
“Hopefully, we can give them some comfort that all of Julian’s remains have now been found,” he said.
Spotlight on the Accused
The alleged killer, 34-year-old Tamika Chesser, has yet to be formally interviewed by investigators.
She is currently being held at James Nash House, a secure psychiatric facility.
Chesser was once in the public eye as a 19-year-old cocktail waitress when she appeared on the second season of the Beauty and the Geek reality show in 2010.
Now, she’s facing charges of murder and interfering with human remains in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
Investigators Following New Leads
Just last week, detectives launched a new search across several areas of Port Lincoln based on fresh intelligence.
That operation led to the discovery of some items—a distinctive Elvis T-shirt, a drink bottle, and a wristband—near the town’s cemetery.
Although those items have been sent off for forensic testing, police said at the time there was still no trace of additional human remains.
A Neighbor’s Horrifying Memory
One of the most disturbing accounts came from a neighbour who, in the days following the alleged murder, entered the unit thinking there was a small fire.
It wasn’t until much later that police informed him what he had seen was actually part of Julian Story’s remains.
Since then, authorities have searched bushland, coastal parks, and popular walking spots like the Parnkalla Trail.
Specialist divers have even combed through Boston Bay with the help of State Emergency Services.
Investigation Still Ongoing
Although this latest discovery could mark a turning point in the investigation, police say their work is far from over.
More forensic results are pending, and they still have yet to sit down with the accused.
As the story continues to develop, both investigators and Julian’s loved ones are hoping for answers—and justice.