Beauty and the Geek star Tamika Chesser makes first court appearance since giving birth
A former reality TV contestant accused of murder appeared in court for the first time after giving birth behind bars earlier this year.
Tamika Chesser, the 2010 runner-up on Beauty and the Geek, is accused of beheading her partner Julian Story and disposing of his body in June 2025.
The former model has been under a mental health detention order at James Nash House in Adelaide since her arrest and charges on June 19, 2025.
The 34-year-old man was pregnant at the time of her arrest and gave birth in custody in March.
On Tuesday, he appeared in court for the first time since the boy’s arrival during a brief procedural hearing in the Adelaide Magistrates’ Court.
Ms Chesser, who appeared via video link from the mental health center wearing a plain black T-shirt, was not required to speak at any point during the hearing.
The hearing, which lasted less than a minute, confirmed that the two charges against him – one of murder, the other of destroying human remains with the intent to pervert the course of justice – would stand and that his legal team had made no attempt to negotiate with prosecutors.
This means Ms Chesser must appear in the same court to answer to the charges within three months.
His arrest relates to the death of Mr Story, 39, in Port Lincoln.
He was charged after some of his dismembered remains were found by police in a unit.
Ms Chesser is alleged to have carried out her murder around midnight on June 17, with Mr Story’s head shockingly discovered by a dog walker a few weeks later on July 31.
Police previously claimed Ms Chesser was captured on CCTV walking with a bag, dogs and heavy clothing in the hours after Mr Story’s death.
The skull was found in bushes on Slipway Street at the east end of the town.
Ms Chesser, from Port Lincoln, appeared in the second series of reality show Beauty and the Geek.
After appearing on television, she worked as a model for many brands, including Target, and appeared in men’s magazines, including FHM.
He will answer the two charges against him on August 11.
