Dustin Kjersem Death: Authorities in Montana say a 911 caller discovered his friend dead in a tent in what seemed to be a fatal bear attack — but officials quickly learned the camper was the victim of a horrible murder. Dustin Kjersem, 35, was found dead in his tent near Moose Creek Road north of Big Sky, Montana, on Saturday morning, according to Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer during a news conference Wednesday.
When Kjersem failed to appear as scheduled on Friday, a friend who was supposed to meet him went in search of him. The companion eventually discovered Kjersem’s body in a tent at a makeshift campsite and contacted 911, telling responders that his death seemed to be the result of a bear assault, according to the sheriff’s office.
An agent from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks who attended the scene, however, found no signs of bear activity, and investigators claimed they quickly discovered evidence of a “vicious attack,” which is being investigated as a homicide. Kjersem, who was last seen on Thursday afternoon, had “multiple chop wounds,” including to his skull, according to an autopsy.
“He was brutally killed at his campsite, and we need your help,” Springer stated, adding that his detectives were working “all hours of the day and night to find his killer.”
No suspects have been identified, and Springer said the crime scene’s remote location, without a mobile connection, made the investigation more challenging than in other cases. “People have asked me if there is a threat to this community, and the answer is that we don’t know.” “We don’t have enough information to know right now,” he explained.
The sheriff urged citizens to be cautious. “We do know that someone was out there who killed someone in a very heinous way so if you’re out in the woods you need to be paying attention, you need to remain vigilant,” Springer told the crowd.
Kjersem was driving a black 2013 Ford F-150 with a black topper and a silver aluminum ladder rack, and police are asking the public for any information they may have. “Think of the whole canyon,” Captain Nathan Kamerman stated during the news conference. “If you saw something weird in the canyon area, or in town with his truck, please reach out to us.”
Dustin Kjersem Obituary and Funeral Arrangements will be Released by the Family
