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

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Muddy K said:
Respectfully, I disagree that it was in any way personal. IMO, "overkill" is often symptomatic of murders who cannot handle themselves, period, cannot know themselves, cannot accept self-responsibility, cannot face their emotions, needs or anger. The list goes on.

The only thing "personal" here is that Dustin happened to personally be camping in a spot familiar to this killer.
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I wouldn’t be too quick to say it wasn’t personal in any way.

Abbey is claiming self-defense. Ridiculous assertion that IMO will be torn apart by a prosecutor when the time comes. It’s also curious that a felon who has been convicted and served time in prison in over three States in his lifetime, confessed. Evidently the DNA evidence found at the scene of the murder convinced him.

He gives many details, but not the why? Two guys in a tent throwing back beers. A chance encounter? Just happened to show up at a campsite to find it already occupied by Dustin? What made Abbey go off suddenly and violently?

If it was self defense, why hit him in the head with a piece of wood, stab him in the neck with a screwdriver, then further attack him with an axe. Does that make sense? A stranger who was so hospitable and friendly, inviting you into his tent for a beer?

What if … Dustin’s new girlfriend could be linked to Abbey in some way? Just throwing out that possibility because it would make help the story make sense.

I never thought this would be random, felt like a low probability IMO. Maybe I’m wrong, time will tell.
 
Knox said:
I wouldn’t be too quick to say it wasn’t personal in any way.

Abbey is claiming self-defense. Ridiculous assertion that IMO will be torn apart by a prosecutor when the time comes. It’s also curious that a felon who has been convicted and served time in prison in over three States in his lifetime, confessed. Evidently the DNA evidence found at the scene of the murder convinced him.

He gives many details, but not the why? Two guys in a tent throwing back beers. A chance encounter? Just happened to show up at a campsite to find it already occupied by Dustin? What made Abbey go off suddenly and violently?

If it was self defense, why hit him in the head with a piece of wood, stab him in the neck with a screwdriver, then further attack him with an axe. Does that make sense? A stranger who was so hospitable and friendly, inviting you into his tent for a beer?

What if … Dustin’s new girlfriend could be linked to Abbey in some way? Just throwing out that possibility because it would make help the story make sense.

I never thought this would be random, felt like a low probability IMO. Maybe I’m wrong, time will tell.
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I, too, believe there is more to the story, and I believe the sheriff has reasons for sharing what they have or have not shared. Especially with a suspect who is claiming self-defense.

I wonder how often murder is claimed to be self-defense by the suspect? And why would he confess? We know based on his criminal record that he isn't too smart, and he is quick to anger. Did he have a lawyer advising him?

He kills DK in a brutal fashion, tried to clean up all the evidence but forgot things at the site and went back. Took an assortment of items from the truck and tent. I am trying to make sense of it, and forgetting that so often these things don't make sense. Wishing DK's family healing.
 
Muddy K said:
JMO, unfortunate coincidence that DA's twin is named Dustin.

Quite the article, indeed. Great work unearthing it.
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From this article from 2011, we learn DA was born/raised in Reno NV. Parents split, dad lives in Sacramento, CA, mom still lives in NV and was involved in political stuff. Mom has nothing to do with either of the twin brothers (both have initials DA!). DA has criminal records in pretty much every state he's lived in.
Steven Holten said that DA preferred to be out in the outdoors, hunting, fishing.

Perhaps DK connected with DA over beers and shared interests, until the killer struck.
 
georgiajean said:
Suspect was in court today, charged. Would be curious to see the charging documents if anyone can find them.
www.kxlf.com

Moose Creek murder suspect charged with deliberate homicide in the brutal killing of Dustin Kjersem

The man accused of murdering Dustin Kjersem of Belgrade at his campsite near Big Sky in October appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court on Nov. 1, 2024.
www.kxlf.com www.kxlf.com
From article, lots of new facts, including (paraphrased):
  • Suspect claimed self defense.
  • Said he washed the screwdriver and ax in the stream.
  • Washed his clothes, burned his shoes in a wood stove (didn't say where).
  • Admitted to taking two coolers, a 44 pistol, holster, shotgun, ammunition sleeve.
  • Returned to campsite to get his hat.
  • Stole binoculars and headlamp from DK's truck.
  • Disposed of 2 phones he took from DK's tent (phones were found Oct 17).
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Good info, @georgiajean . Here is a CourtTV article about the same court appearance with a bit more.

"Abbey allegedly said he struck Kjersem on the head with a piece of firewood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and hit him on the face with the blunt side of an axe."

So DK was not 'chopped'? Seems moot at this point, but an interesting clarification if accurate.

IMO.
 
RedHaus said:
Good info, @georgiajean . Here is a CourtTV article about the same court appearance with a bit more.

"Abbey allegedly said he struck Kjersem on the head with a piece of firewood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and hit him on the face with the blunt side of an axe."

So DK was not 'chopped'? Seems moot at this point, but an interesting clarification if accurate.

IMO.
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But not unheard of. The blunt side of an axe as a bludgeoning weapon is something that's happened a bunch, much more in the past, when everyone had fireplaces, wood stoves and woodpiles. It was a key method used by the theorised serial killer The Man from The Train.

MOO
 
georgiajean said:
Here is quite the article to read about the killer, DA.

STEVEN HOLTEN ON FORMER ROOMMATE DAREN ABBEY: 'WE FORGED A GREAT FRIENDSHIP' – Idavox Archives

archive.idavox.com archive.idavox.com
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Yes, a great find! Fascinating. Two things from that story caught my attention:

1. "He and his twin brother Dustin are always together." Where was Dustin 10/10/2024, the night DK was killed? LE has only stated "they believe" Daren Abbey acted alone.

2. "As for Abbey, he [Holten] says he is not surprised... given his [DA's] brawler reputation. “For that knockout [in 2011], he’s knocked out two or three hundred people and got away with it, but this time he didn’t.”" This time he REALLY didn't!

IMO.
 
RedHaus said:
Yes, a great find! Fascinating. Two things from that story caught my attention:

1. "He and his twin brother Dustin are always together." Where was Dustin 10/10/2024, the night DK was killed? LE has only stated "they believe" Daren Abbey acted alone.

2. "As for Abbey, he [Holten] says he is not surprised... given his [DA's] brawler reputation. “For that knockout [in 2011], he’s knocked out two or three hundred people and got away with it, but this time he didn’t.”" This time he REALLY didn't!

IMO.
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The killer's brother is currently incarcerated for DUIs in Shelby, MT. As of Sept. 17, 2024. So it looks like he can not be part of any delusional alibi.
1730654691965.png
 
RickshawFan said:
The only one recently-ish that I can think of was Schulte and Turner near Moab, and that was... not random.
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RSBM
Other cases we've considered here that may be linked to Daren Abbey?

1. The most obvious is the unsolved 2021 case of Steve Kilwein, given both SK and DA were in the construction business. I presume the Bozeman LE are taking a very close look at DA, especially if DA was in the area in 2021.

2. And as it relates to Schulte and Turner, I found this 2022 article I had not seen ... perp (committed suicide about a month after the murders) identified by LE with confidence, case closed by Grand Jury, and motive was he did not like being bossed around by one of the women at their mutual job location.... I did not realize how 'solved' that case was.

RickshawFan said:
Incidentally, there’s an old unsolved case near Oakridge in OR that was likely random (though not certain) in an unmarked campsite, maybe similar to this one. IIRC in that case, the couple came from Montana, and LE looked at MT for clues.
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RSBM

3. Article you posted: "Campers found the dead bodies of Steven Haugen, Jeanette Bauman and their dog Caesar on July 1, 2005, at a remote campsite near Staley Creek, south of Oakridge.

DA is 41 year old, so he would have been about 20 years old when this occurred. From DA's roommate Holten story:

"...Holten and Abbey were thick as thieves, and had a relationship that Holten called “more of an aggressive type intamacy [sic] that was non-committal”, and that went on until Sept. 2004 when the FBI raided their apartment...

"...After the apartment was raided, Holten says Abbey decided to hit the road. “He went to Oregon in a truck that I sold him, he got a girl pregnant, she had a miscarriage or abortion, then he came back to Reno,” he wrote.

Oh my. I think I'll send this last case into Detective Nate Kamerman of the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.

ET: fix formatting
 
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I am always disturbed by taking a story from the perpetrator regarding the events that led up to the murder.

It would be interesting to know if Dustin had any defensive wounds. Or if AB just stalked him, and killed him when he was asleep. I think that there was more of a back story, because this was rage, and personal based on the vicious attack and overkill. I don't think that everything has been disclosed in this situation. MOO.
 
I believe an argument ensued, probably political in nature. Perhaps Dustin tried to get him to leave. I am sure Dustin realized shortly into their conversation that the guy was a Nazi racist. I do not think he noticed the Nazi necklace at first meet and tatts must have been covered by clothing. I just can't see Dustin inviting a Nazi skinhead in for a beer. DK sounds like a really good person. Anyways, DA became enraged at what he perceived an offense in his disturbed mind. I do not think DK was asleep. DA was enraged. IMO the robbery was an afterthought. Because as we all know, criminals are opportunists.
 
Knox said:
I wouldn’t be too quick to say it wasn’t personal in any way.

Abbey is claiming self-defense. Ridiculous assertion that IMO will be torn apart by a prosecutor when the time comes. It’s also curious that a felon who has been convicted and served time in prison in over three States in his lifetime, confessed. Evidently the DNA evidence found at the scene of the murder convinced him.

He gives many details, but not the why? Two guys in a tent throwing back beers. A chance encounter? Just happened to show up at a campsite to find it already occupied by Dustin? What made Abbey go off suddenly and violently?

If it was self defense, why hit him in the head with a piece of wood, stab him in the neck with a screwdriver, then further attack him with an axe. Does that make sense? A stranger who was so hospitable and friendly, inviting you into his tent for a beer?

What if … Dustin’s new girlfriend could be linked to Abbey in some way? Just throwing out that possibility because it would make help the story make sense.

I never thought this would be random, felt like a low probability IMO. Maybe I’m wrong, time will tell.
Click to expand...

JMO, he just wanted to rob him and didn't think he could do so without killing him. Probably drunk, with a bad temper, too.
 
well the more we learn, the more I understand their mother disowning the twins
it must take a lot for a mother to have to make that decision
besides their history of crime, I wonder if they did anything specifically to her or other family members
 
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