Arrest Made - Dustin Kjersem, 35, killed while camping, 911 caller thought bear attack, sheriff says murder, Oct. 12, 2024

[orchidaceaes]

A 911 caller reported his friend was killed by a bear in his tent. It was actually a brutal homicide.

Dustin Kjersem sustained "multiple chop wounds," including to his skull, an autopsy revealed. His killer has not been found.

www.cbsnews.com

Murder at Moose Creek: Gallatin County Sheriff's Office seeks help in homicide investigation

A 35 year-old Belgrade, MT resident was found dead in his tent by a friend on Saturday, October 12, 2024, near Big Sky, MT. His friend, the 911 caller, thought he was attacked by a bear due to the brutality of his injuries. However, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office determined that he was murdered and suffered "multiple chop wounds." Law enforcement has not identified nor found a suspect.

"No suspects have been identified, and Springer said the remote area of the crime scene, where there is no cellphone service, was making the investigation more difficult than most cases.

"People have asked me if there's a threat to this community and the answer is we don't know. We don't have enough information to know at this time," he said.

The sheriff urged residents to be careful."

 

[NervousNellie]

So many questions! Where were the friend and Dustin supposed to meet? How long had Dustin been staying at this makeshift campsite?

From the CBSnews.com article posted above:
"Dustin Kjersem, 35, was found dead in his tent on Saturday morning along Moose Creek Road north of Big Sky, Montana, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said at news conference Wednesday. A friend who was supposed to have met Kjersem went searching for him when he didn't show up as scheduled on Friday.

The friend ultimately discovered Kjersem's body in a tent at a makeshift campsite and called 911, telling responders the death appeared to have been caused by a bear attack, the sheriff's office said.
An agent with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks agency who visited the site, however, found no signs of bear activity, and investigators said they soon found evidence of a "vicious attack," which is being investigated as a homicide."
---
"He was brutally killed at his campsite and we need your help," Springer said, adding that his detectives were working "all hours of day and night to find his killer."

 

[orchidaceaes]

So many questions! Where were the friend and Dustin supposed to meet? How long had Dustin been staying at this makeshift campsite?

From the CBSnews.com article posted above:
"Dustin Kjersem, 35, was found dead in his tent on Saturday morning along Moose Creek Road north of Big Sky, Montana, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said at news conference Wednesday. A friend who was supposed to have met Kjersem went searching for him when he didn't show up as scheduled on Friday.

The friend ultimately discovered Kjersem's body in a tent at a makeshift campsite and called 911, telling responders the death appeared to have been caused by a bear attack, the sheriff's office said.
An agent with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks agency who visited the site, however, found no signs of bear activity, and investigators said they soon found evidence of a "vicious attack," which is being investigated as a homicide."
---
"He was brutally killed at his campsite and we need your help," Springer said, adding that his detectives were working "all hours of day and night to find his killer."

I think one of the articles that I posted above said that Dustin left for this camping trip on Thursday, October 10th. Maybe he was sleeping at this "makeshift" campsite just for the night, then him and his friend would set up something more formal in another location? I wonder if they're just calling it a "makeshift" campsite only because he wasn't in a designated campsite.
It's such an unusual situation. I'm really stuck on the friend thinking it was a bear attack at first. Would your average person or even outdoorsman be able to differentiate between the wounds from an animal attack and "chopping" wounds?
This article makes it seem like law enforcement was easily able to see that it wasn't a bear attack.

'We lost our brother': Sheriff asking for help in investigating Belgrade man’s campsite homicide

Dustin Kjersem, 35, was a loving and adoring father, his sister Jillian Price said during a press conference Wednesday.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

To me, "chopping" is a big distinction from "stabbing" with a knife. I imagine a chopping wound would have to come from an axe.

 

[Feme98]

A 911 caller reported his friend was killed by a bear in his tent. It was actually a brutal homicide.

Dustin Kjersem sustained "multiple chop wounds," including to his skull, an autopsy revealed. His killer has not been found.

www.cbsnews.com

Murder at Moose Creek: Gallatin County Sheriff's Office seeks help in homicide investigation

A 35 year-old Belgrade, MT resident was found dead in his tent by a friend on Saturday, October 12, 2024, near Big Sky, MT. His friend, the 911 caller, thought he was attacked by a bear due to the brutality of his injuries. However, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office determined that he was murdered and suffered "multiple chop wounds." Law enforcement has not identified nor found a suspect.

"No suspects have been identified, and Springer said the remote area of the crime scene, where there is no cellphone service, was making the investigation more difficult than most cases.

"People have asked me if there's a threat to this community and the answer is we don't know. We don't have enough information to know at this time," he said.

The sheriff urged residents to be careful."

It’s shocking how something so horrific could happen, especially in a place like that. Everyone should definitely stay alert and take precautions while out in those remote areas.

 

[georgiajean]

'We lost our brother': Sheriff asking for help in investigating Belgrade man’s campsite homicide

Dustin Kjersem, 35, was a loving and adoring father, his sister Jillian Price said during a press conference Wednesday.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

Belgrade resident Dustin Kjersem was killed sometime between the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 10, and the morning of Saturday, Oct. 12, Springer said, in an attack that has been described as vicious.

So a timeline of almost 2 days.
Questions: Who was the last to see him? Where was he supposed to meet his friend? Has the friend's alibi checked out? (have seen cases where the person who calls 911 has been involved somehow)

 

[georgiajean]

At this article, the campsite is described more. 'We lost our brother': Sheriff asking for help in investigating Belgrade man’s campsite homicide

Springer said Kjersem’s tent was found in an informal but often-used campsite typical of Forest Service lands, about 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road near Tamphery Creek Road. A fair number of hunters, outfitters and campers frequent the fairly remote area.

Maybe someone changed "informal" to "makeshift"?
Attached images show where this informal FS campsite is.
First one with blue line shows where 2.5 miles up Moose Cr Rd is. The squiggly road below this, which T's with Moose Cr. Rd is Tamphrey Cr Rd.
Second one shows that the turnoff for Moose Cr. Rd is 20 miles from the nearest town of Gallatin Gateway.
Perhaps Kjersem was supposed to meet his friend in Gallatin Gateway for breakfast or coffee? Has anyone heard where the friend expected to meet him?

 

[georgiajean]

Sister of man murdered near Big Sky asks community to help find his killer
This answers some questions about timeline:

The last time Dustin was seen was Thursday afternoon when he was leaving to go camping in his truck, a black 2013 Ford F-250, with a black topper.

“He was well prepared for a weekend of camping and had plans to meet with a friend on Friday afternoon. But he never made that meeting,” says Nathan Kamerman, Investigations Captain with Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.

That concerned friend went searching for Dustin Saturday morning. He was the one to find him dead in his tent in a campsite to the east of Highway 191, up Moose Creek Road.

The meeting was supposed to be Friday afternoon (still doesn't say where they were supposed to meet). Friend looked for him Sat. morning.
His sister shares some very cute pictures in this article of him w/daughter.

 

[georgiajean]

This article makes it sound like the EMS who went to the campsite thought it was a bear attack, too, but the bear expert said no. Belgrade man found dead near Big Sky from "vicious attack," homicide investigation underway

Authorities initially responded to a call on Saturday saying the death might be the result of a bear attack. However, after evaluation by a bear expert from Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the attack was ruled out.

However, a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks agent who specializes in bear incidents found no signs of bear activity. This shifted the investigation towards homicide.

 

[orchidaceaes]

Sister of man murdered near Big Sky asks community to help find his killer
This answers some questions about timeline:


The meeting was supposed to be Friday afternoon (still doesn't say where they were supposed to meet). Friend looked for him Sat. morning.
His sister shares some very cute pictures in this article of him w/daughter.

BBM.
I wonder if Dustin and his child's mother are together or potentially going through a custody battle.
But thinking on it twice, if this was a targeted attack, someone would've had to known exactly where Dustin camped to kill him on purpose. Or, maybe a crime of opportunity?
I really don't know with this case. It seems like LE really don't know, either.

 

[orchidaceaes]

Montana Man’s Death First Thought To Be Grizzly Mauling, Now…
This Cowboy State Daily article provides a bit more clarification as to why it wasn't thought to be bear-related:

“We did have staff who visited the scene on Saturday,” he said. “We did not find any evidence of recent bear activity at that site. No tracks, no scat, no hair.”

FWP was involved in the initial investigation, but the sheriff’s office has since taken the lead, Jacobsen said.

“At this point, it’s unlikely that it was a bear attack,” he said. “We can’t say for 100$ sure that it wasn’t a bear attack, but it’s highly unlikely.”

 

[georgiajean]

BBM.
I wonder if Dustin and his child's mother are together or potentially going through a custody battle.
But thinking on it twice, if this was a targeted attack, someone would've had to known exactly where Dustin camped to kill him on purpose. Or, maybe a crime of opportunity?
I really don't know with this case. It seems like LE really don't know, either.

If you read this post on the Sherrif's FB page, you will find some interesting comments relating to what you posted...

Such a rural place, and he seems like a well liked, hard working person, deeply connected to this area. I am also wondering if it was targeted or if it was a crime of opportunity or sudden rage (someone at another campsite had interaction with him over something...).
edited to correct link

 

[georgiajean]

For what it is worth (sorry for possible gruesomeness) From this article, "

Forensic Autopsy of Sharp Force Injuries​

I learned that "chop wounds" might be made by crowbars, claw hammers, tomahawks, axes, hatchets, boat propellers, lawnmower blades, and a multitude of industrial and farm machinery.
(You need to make a free account w/email/password to view).

 

[RedHaus]

In this article today, it references (oblique, mind you), that DK's truck may be missing. If true, was theft a motive?

"Kjersem was driving a black 2013 Ford F-150 with a black topper and a silver aluminum ladder rack, and police have asked the public to come forward with any information they might have..."

""Think of the whole canyon," Captain Nathan Kamerman said at the news conference. "If you saw something weird in the canyon area, or in town with his truck, please reach out to us.""

IMO.

 

[tarabull]

If you read this post on the Sherrif's FB page, you will find some interesting comments relating to what you posted...

Such a rural place, and he seems like a well liked, hard working person, deeply connected to this area. I am also wondering if it was targeted or if it was a crime of opportunity or sudden rage (someone at another campsite had interaction with him over something...).
edited to correct link

POSTED UNDERNEATH IN THE COMMENTS, in response to the question asking if his truck is missing or was it left at the scene, FWIW:

Author
Gallatin County Sheriff's Office
His truck is not missing. Our investigators have it. But if anyone saw the truck between Oct. 10-12, whether in the area or in town or otherwise, we'd love to hear from them.

 

[mickey2942]

That is super scary. I am thinking it is someone known to him, because there haven't been any other crimes like this in area.

 

[tarabull]

What about any missing people..........................

ETA:

Missing Persons Discussion

www.websleuths.com

 

[Snoopster]

DBM. Question already answered.

 

[mickey2942]

His truck was parked, and he was camping 2.5 miles from his truck. That doesn't sound random to me.

 

[georgiajean]

POSTED UNDERNEATH IN THE COMMENTS, in response to the question asking if his truck is missing or was it left at the scene, FWIW:

Author
Gallatin County Sheriff's Office
His truck is not missing. Our investigators have it. But if anyone saw the truck between Oct. 10-12, whether in the area or in town or otherwise, we'd love to hear from them.

Thanks for posting this. I knew I had seen that statement by LE somewhere but couldn't remember where! Brilliant find.

 

[Snoopster]

His truck was parked, and he was camping 2.5 miles from his truck. That doesn't sound random to me.

Oh, I missed that. Do you know which link that fact comes from?

I did read this:

Kjersem's body was found in a tent approximately 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.

Source: Murder at Moose Creek: Gallatin County Sheriff's Office seeks help in homicide investigation

But I presumed that his truck was nearby his tent...not out by the main road. I haven't seen any specific mention of where his truck was found.