Bride Found Dead on Honeymoon After Allegedly Being Beaten by Her Husband

What started as a dream honeymoon on a luxury Fijian island ended in absolute horror for newlywed Christe Chen, whose lifeless body was found in the bathroom of her resort villa just two days after arriving. Christe married Bradley Robert Dawson in February 2022, surrounded by close family and friends.

The couple appeared blissfully happy, and their whirlwind romance led them to the ultra-exclusive Turtle Island resort in Fiji—a secluded paradise in the Yasawa islands known for its luxury and tranquility. The spot wasn’t new to Dawson—he had also honeymooned there with his previous wife back in 2019.

But what should’ve been a romantic getaway turned into something far darker. Resort staff began to grow concerned when neither Christe nor Dawson showed up for breakfast or lunch. Eventually, one of the team went to check on the couple—and what they found was deeply disturbing, reported Irish Star.

Christe was discovered dead in the bathroom, with clear signs of a brutal assault. She had been beaten, with severe head trauma and cuts to her face. Blood covered the room. Meanwhile, Dawson had vanished.

Other guests recalled seeing the couple drinking at an event the night before, and some overheard them arguing as they left. Later that night, strange, unsettling noises came from their villa.

It soon emerged that Dawson had taken a kayak and paddled to a nearby island about a mile away, where police eventually caught him. He was carrying his passport, cash, and personal items—enough to make it seem like he’d been planning to run.

To make matters worse for Christe’s devastated family, her injuries were so severe that her body couldn’t be embalmed for the journey back to the US. They were left with no option but to have her cremated in Fiji.

Dawson went to trial in December 2024. He claimed he had only gone out “to give her some space” and described his absence as something normal. But prosecutors argued that the way he left—without his phone or GPS watch—was an attempt to avoid being traced. The court agreed.

In February, Dawson was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 18 years before he can even apply for parole. The judge didn’t hold back, slamming his actions as “appalling” and highlighting the cruelty of leaving Christe alone and injured in their villa.