WARNING – UPSETTING CONTENT: Christe Chen and Bradley Robert Dawson met in November and married three months later – but the honeymoon would turn into a holiday from hell
Christe Chen, donned in a beautiful white bridal gown, was the epitome of joy as she beamed at her new husband Bradley Robert Dawson on their wedding day in February 2022. The intimate ceremony was attended by close family and friends, marking the culmination of their whirlwind romance.
The couple first crossed paths in November 2021 and tied the knot just three months later, shortly after Dawson, then 38, had finalised his divorce from his first wife. Some family members met Dawson for the first time on the wedding day itself. Post-wedding, the couple settled into their newly purchased home in Memphis, Tennessee, eagerly anticipating their luxury honeymoon planned for later in the year.
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Before relocating to Memphis for university, Christe, 36, ran a successful bakery in Colorado. After completing her pharmacy studies, she took up a job at a supermarket pharmacy.
Dawson, on the other hand, was employed in the IT department of a children’s non-profit welfare charity.
Despite some eyebrows being raised at the rapid progression of their relationship, those close to Christe knew of her eagerness to marry and start a family. They simply hoped that she had found her true love.
The couple seemed to be head over heels in love indeed. In July 2022, they embarked on their honeymoon, a generous gift from Christe’s parents.
The couple had chosen Fiji in the South Pacific as their destination. Dawson had previously tied the knot with his first wife there in 2019, and Christe had visited with her parents.
They had reserved a stay at the luxurious Turtle Island resort, situated on an exclusive private 500-acre island in the Yasawa archipelago.
This idyllic location was showcased in the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon, featuring Brooke Shields. It’s also where pop star Britney Spears and her ex-husband Kevin Federline chose to honeymoon in 2004.
The secluded, adults-only hotel, costing $3,500 per night, only accommodates 14 couples at a time in villas just a stone’s throw from the crystal-clear waters and pristine white sands. Guests usually arrive by seaplane and can indulge in luxuries such as personal chefs and butlers.
It’s an incredibly stunning destination – the ideal spot for a honeymoon. After spending two days there, staff noticed on 9 July that Christe and Dawson hadn’t shown up for breakfast or lunch.
Later in the afternoon, a staff member went to their villa (referred to as a bure in Fiji) and made a chilling discovery. They found Christe’s lifeless body in the bathroom, collapsed in the small space between the toilet and the wall. The cistern lid was broken.
Christe was found covered in blood, suffering from multiple injuries including blunt force trauma to the head and lacerations to the face. Dawson had vanished, seemingly making his escape.
Other guests reported that the couple had been at an evening event the previous night where they had been drinking and were seen arguing as they left. Disturbing noises were later heard emanating from their villa.
Police discovered that Dawson had taken a kayak and managed to reach another island a mile away. He was subsequently apprehended.
Officers found he had his passport, cash and personal belongings with him, leading them to believe he was attempting to flee the scene.
Following his arrest, authorities discovered a dead body in the bathroom, slumped in the small space between the toilet and the wall. The cistern lid was cracked.
Christe was again found covered in blood, with multiple injuries including blunt force trauma to the head and facial lacerations. Dawson was nowhere to be found.
Other guests reiterated that the couple had attended an evening event the night before, where they had been drinking and were seen arguing upon departure. Loud noises were later reported coming from their villa.
The police discovered Dawson had taken a kayak and successfully reached another island a mile away. He was apprehended once more.
Officers found that he had his passport, cash and personal belongings in his possession, confirming their suspicions that he had been trying to escape the scene.
Following his arrest, authorities initially believed the report of her death was a cruel hoax. However, when they discovered the horrifying truth, they immediately flew to Fiji.
Adding to their distress, Christe’s body was so severely damaged that it couldn’t be embalmed for transportation back to the US, resulting in her being cremated in Fiji.
The trial took place in Fiji in December 2024. Dawson claimed he had taken the kayak to a nearby island to give his wife some “cooling off” time after an argument.
The prosecution, however, argued that he had packed personal belongings with the intention of escaping. He had deliberately left behind his GPS watch and phone to avoid being tracked.
The defence maintained there was no credible evidence that Dawson had murdered his wife and that he wasn’t attempting to flee.
They argued her death was merely an accident. After a week-long trial, Dawson was found guilty of murder.
The judge expressed his conviction that Dawson was the murderer and that no one else could have committed the crime. “Having considered all the evidence in its totality, I am of the opinion that the prosecution has proved the charge of murder against the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” he stated.
Dawson was handed a life sentence in February, with the Fijian justice system decreeing he must serve at least 18 years before being eligible for a pardon. The judge lambasted him, saying, “Your conduct after the incident was appalling,” and chastised him further: “Having inflicted serious and life-threatening injuries to the deceased, you fled the scene of the crime, leaving the deceased alone and helpless in your bure.”
A grim twist of fate saw Christe murdered by the very man who had promised to cherish her just a few months before. Her dreams were cruelly cut short in what should have been paradise, where she believed her life was only just beginning.