Photo: Montana Department of Corrections
A brutal murder at a Montana campsite, initially suspected to be a bear attack due to the severity of the wounds, has led to the arrest of a suspect thanks to DNA found on a beer can. The accused, 41-year-old Daren Christopher Abbey, has been charged with deliberate homicide in the killing of Dustin Kjersem, according to Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer.
Kjersem's body was discovered by his girlfriend in a tent at a remote campsite in the Moose Creek area. The 35-year-old had set up camp on Thursday, October 10, planning to spend the weekend with his girlfriend. When Kjersem failed to pick her up the following day, she and a friend drove to the campsite and found him deceased in the tent.
Abbey, who was also looking for a place to camp that night, was welcomed by Kjersem to the campsite and offered a beer. At some point, Abbey allegedly attacked Kjersem with a piece of wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and hit him with an ax. Abbey later returned to the crime scene to remove items he believed could tie him to the crime, including a cooler, firearms, and the ax. However, he missed a beer can, which was sent to the Montana State Crime Lab. The DNA on the can matched Abbey's, leading to his arrest.
Abbey has confessed to the murder and is currently being held in Butte on a charge of deliberate homicide, as well as two counts of tampering with evidence. He has been denied bond, according to Gallatin County records.
The motive for the attack is still unknown. Sheriff Springer stated, "There does not appear to be any connection between our victim and our suspect. This appears to be a heinous crime committed by an individual who had no regard for the life of Dustin Kjersem."