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Shop NowPolice have a suspect in custody. If you’ve been following the story of Dustin Kjersem, his obvious murder had been blamed on bears. After teasing the arrest all day, the killer’s identity has finally been revealed. More details about the murder have also been released, now that the public’s knowledge won’t affect the investigation.
Suspect confesses to murder
The suspect police have in custody has already confessed to the murder. Dustin Kjersem was camping in Montana when his “bloodied body” was discovered October 12. At first, everyone thought he had been attacked by a bear. Then, it turned out there was an ax murderer on the loose.
On Thursday, October 31, authorities announced they had a suspect in custody. They were certain enough that they had the right guy to assure the public they were reasonably safe, once again.
The murder scene was a tent “about two-and-a-half miles up Moose Creek Road, east of Big Sky.”
The “friend” referred to in initial reports was the girlfriend of the deceased. She became concerned “after he did not show to pick her up.” She’s the one who found his remains.
When she called 911, she told the dispatcher “Kjersem appeared to have been attacked by a bear.” The crime was that violent. Local wildlife experts quickly ruled out that possibility. An autopsy revealed the 35-year-old had suffered “multiple chop wounds.”
At first, the sheriff’s office claimed “they did not know what weapon was used.” It had to be “something hard enough to cause significant damage to the skull as well as some flesh areas of the body.” Like a hatchet. That’s what eventually led to the suspect.
Missing item clues
In an update, the sheriff noted “that several items, including a camp ax, a shotgun, a revolver, and a cooler had gone missing from the scene of the crime.” Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer had no doubt that Kjersem “was brutally killed at his campsite.” His girlfriend didn’t do it.
After a three-week search, Springer’s deputies “identified a suspect, who is in custody.” They aren’t charging him with the murder yet. He’s being held on “unrelated charges.”
One of the biggest clues uncovered at the crime scene was a beer can. It had been left inside the tent. DNA matched up to 41-year-old Daren Christopher Abbey. As soon as they had their suspect in custody, he admitted the murder.
Kjersem snagged his favorite campsite but police aren’t calling that the motive, even though they don’t seem to have any better ideas.
Abbey got a little upset, he told police. “He was in the area looking for a place to camp and had set his sights on where Kjersem was staying when he found the victim there.” Making it worse, “the victim welcomed him into his elaborate campsite, and even offered Abbey a beer.” That wasn’t good enough for Abbey.
“At some point, Abbey struck the victim with a piece of solid wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver and hit him with the ax.” The suspect rounded up anything he thought might connect him to the crime but missed the beer can. He came back later for a few things he thought he could use.
