In a tragic and shocking story that could easily be mistaken for a plotline from The White Lotus, American newlywed Christe Chen was found dead at the exclusive Turtle Island resort in Fiji in 2022. Her husband, Bradley Robert Dawson, was found guilty of her murder in December 2024.
Chen, 36, and Dawson, 40, from Memphis, Tennessee, were on their honeymoon at Turtle Island Fiji, a remote, luxury resort that gained fame through the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon. Two days into their stay, the couple failed to appear for meals, prompting staff to check on them. Upon entering their villa, staff discovered Chen’s body, which had been severely beaten with multiple blunt-force injuries to the head.
Witnesses reported overhearing a heated argument between the couple the night before the incident. One guest described hearing a loud scream followed by a “big loud bang,” after which everything went silent. Dawson, who had fled the island by kayak, was arrested the next day on a nearby island. Police discovered that he had with him his passport and personal items, suggesting he was trying to escape.
Dawson initially told ABC News that both he and Chen were drunk during the argument, and he claimed that they had never had physical altercations before. He also stated that he went for a walk to give Chen some space, but after his arrest, he backtracked on an earlier confession to the police, once he had legal representation.
Chen’s injuries were so severe that her body could not be embalmed or transported back to the U.S., leading to her cremation. Despite Dawson’s claims of an accident, the prosecution argued that his actions were intentional, and the court found him guilty of murder. Justice Riyaz Hamza rejected the defense’s version of events, stating that the prosecution had proven the murder charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
Dawson’s sentencing is scheduled for January 2025, and he faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison. This tragic case has left many questions unanswered about the couple’s relationship, but what is clear is the brutality of the crime and the devastation it has caused to Chen’s family.