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

[LadyL]

Perhaps a drifter killed Dustin, took Dustin's better belongings, and discarded his own.

I think if they left something behind, it wasn't intentional. JMO.

 

[Cryptic]

If so ... hatchet wielding nutter, someone he knew, petty criminal stealing equipment ...? It seems personal - axe to the head.

A combination of your possibilities and @georgiajean 's references to drifters could give the following scenario:

- Perpetrator is a drifter with mental health problems aggravated by drug usage. He has a car and is camping long term in the area. He moves from one spot to another nearby spot when Rangers pressure him. In the meantime, he joins contractor crews sporadically as a helper / laborer.

- The perpetrator is also known to pilfer food, gear and construction tools from unattended camp sites. He then goes into the victim's campsite looking for things to pilfer.

- Victim chases him off. Enraged perpetrator then returns at night and attacks the victim with an axe?

 

[Cedars]

A combination of your possibilities and @georgiajean 's references to drifters could give the following scenario:

- Perpetrator is a drifter with mental health problems aggravated by drug usage. He has a car and is camping long term in the area. He moves from one spot to another nearby spot when Rangers pressure him. In the meantime, he joins contractor crews sporadically as a helper / laborer.

- The perpetrator is also known to pilfer food, gear and construction tools from unattended camp sites. He then goes into the victim's campsite looking for things to pilfer.

- Victim chases him off. Enraged perpetrator then returns at night and attacks the victim with an axe?

In that case, the rangers would know about someone hanging around the area, that person would be on their list. I expect they collect licence plate numbers some how?

Also, whether supplies were taken from the camp would be a key indicator of the type of crime.

JMO

 

[Cedars]

It's likely going to take someone who saw someone, heard something, [/COLOR]or saw two individuals up at this campsite," Sheriff Springer says."

IMO.

I think they mean anyone who saw 2 people ie, not just Dustin on his own, would be key.

Whether Dustin with someone, or two people, neither looking like Dustin, why are police going to specify just one and not the other?

IMO, sometimes people try to read too much into LE's words. As far as we know, LE don't know what happened, except that Dustin didn't kill himself.

JMO

 

[mickey2942]

I am thinking that this was a female, maybe "Jodi Arias" type. Maybe a "FWB", who became enraged when Dustin told her he was hanging out with his friend for the weekend. If he was asleep, it would be pretty easy to start with his skull, to stun him and keep going.

The overkill, is why I think it is a female. A man wouldn't have this much rage in the killing. This was personal. JMO.

 

[RedHaus]

The overkill, is why I think it is a female. A man wouldn't have this much rage in the killing. This was personal. JMO.

RSBM
I do consider an enraged female as a possible perp, likely rooted in jealousy or some deep abandonment trauma trigger. Or even a defensive action, as an outlier possibility.

But more likely in my mind, per the scenario I described ^ earlier today, is an enraged male also possibly rooted in jealousy over a mutual love interest. Or perhaps a 'business' deal gone wrong.

I still wonder if items LE found at the campsite, which were not expected, might include female clothing or accessories, as in DK may have had a guest Thursday night. A guest that could be the perp or the catalyst for a perp.

ETA: to last paragraph

 

[mickey2942]

I don't know. I hope that we find out soon. I like to think that living in Montana is safe. Unfortunately, ever since the gal in Plentywood was kidnapped and killed by some crazy meth heads working up in the oil fields, I have never felt quite as safe.

Sure, bad things happen here, but it usually isn't random killing. This has me on edge. I bet a lot of folks in Gallatin Gateway, Big Sky area feel the same way. The sooner the police identify the perpetrator, the better.

 

[j_in_c]

I am thinking that this was a female, maybe "Jodi Arias" type. Maybe a "FWB", who became enraged when Dustin told her he was hanging out with his friend for the weekend. If he was asleep, it would be pretty easy to start with his skull, to stun him and keep going.

The overkill, is why I think it is a female. A man wouldn't have this much rage in the killing. This was personal. JMO.

I am not sure a woman would be confident enough in her strength to commit this type of crime, I would think a woman would use a gun. I keep thinking of Greg Lynn in Australia who was just annoyed by his fellow camper and it escalated to murder.

 

[Cryptic]

In that case, the rangers would know about someone hanging around the area, that person would be on their list. I expect they collect licence plate numbers some how?

Also, whether supplies were taken from the camp would be a key indicator of the type of crime.

JMO

I agree that with Rangers being told somebody was hanging out in the area. Though that knowledge maybe in the general sense:

John Doe citizen: "Hey, there is this guy hanging around some of the campsites. I cant see what his business is- probably nothing good. I think he stole my disappearing and expensive rotary saw .

Ranger (quietly thinking) : "Probably" and "think? Need more that that. Responds with: Ok, thanks. I"ll check into it. Ranger then does not see anybody resembling vague description on his patrol sweeps.

As for license plates.....

I would say probably "yes" for Parks (tighter controls). But... essentially "no" for State / National Forest and BLM land (far looser controls).

 

[mickey2942]

I am not sure a woman would be confident enough in her strength to commit this type of crime, I would think a woman would use a gun. I keep thinking of Greg Lynn in Australia who was just annoyed by his fellow camper and it escalated to murder.

Once a man is asleep, it would be pretty easy. I think men tend to discount women as being strong, and killers. Not too long ago, I was at a training, and "killed" two men, because they were hesitant to shoot a woman. They even admitted it.

It was a good lesson for everyone. Don't think "woman" or "man", think "threat". That way there isn't a hesitation.

And honestly, I am 5'10". I have been chopping wood for a woodstove since I was 12. My daughter does triathlons. Women are strong.

 

[Cedars]

I agree that with Rangers being told somebody was hanging out in the area. Though that knowledge maybe in the general sense:

John Doe citizen: "Hey, there is this guy hanging around some of the campsites. I cant see what his business is- probably nothing good. I think he stole my disappearing and expensive rotary saw .

Ranger (quietly thinking) : "Probably" and "think? Need more that that. Responds with: Ok, thanks. I"ll check into it. Ranger then does not see anybody resembling vague description on his patrol sweeps.

As for license plates.....

I would say probably "yes" for Parks (tighter controls). But... essentially "no" for State / National Forest and BLM land (far looser controls).

Maybe, it was just speculation. And, IMO if anything like that had happened, I would imagine that it would be remembered after a person has been found hacked to death in his tent in the area.

 

[Cryptic]

Maybe, it was just speculation. And, IMO if anything like that had happened, I would imagine that it would be remembered after a person has been found hacked to death in his tent in the area.

I agree completely.

I think they could well be asking Rangers, Deputies about any complaints of "creepers" (peepers or pilferers) loitering in the area.

Whether the complaint ended in: Unable to locate, or Too vague / speculative to take action etc. would not matter. Rather, the focus would be on if the Ranger remembered or logged who made it.

 

[Sweeper2000]

I think they mean anyone who saw 2 people ie, not just Dustin on his own, would be key.

Whether Dustin with someone, or two people, neither looking like Dustin, why are police going to specify just one and not the other?

IMO, sometimes people try to read too much into LE's words. As far as we know, LE don't know what happened, except that Dustin didn't kill himself.

JMO

I would have thought they would try to build a picture of events though. Checked the campsites for evidence of events eg dirty plates for two, numerous beer cans for dna, cigarette butt's for dna etc they have too don't they. Anything to build a lead. I would have thought they might give us a idea of 2hat they think happened by now though. It's been two weeks.

 

[MountainGal33]

Does anyone remember this cold case from 2021? - same area - Bozeman MT.

Steve Kilwein- Same injuries...

"According to the death certificate, his death was caused by “multiple chop-type injuries.”
Kurt said whoever cut his father’s life short walked in and out of the house on a Sunday morning in a residential neighborhood without getting caught"

Bozeman Police look for information regarding 2021 cold case

 

[doublestop]

Does anyone remember this cold case from 2021? - same area - Bozeman MT.

Steve Kilwein- Same injuries...

"According to the death certificate, his death was caused by “multiple chop-type injuries.”
Kurt said whoever cut his father’s life short walked in and out of the house on a Sunday morning in a residential neighborhood without getting caught"

Bozeman Police look for information regarding 2021 cold case

There is a thread for Kilwein here on Websleuths. MT - MT- Steve Joseph Kilwein, 79, home builder & artist, body found with multiple chop-type wounds, @ home, Bozeman, 13 June 2021, *New initiative*

I do think that's interesting.

 

[georgiajean]

Does anyone remember this cold case from 2021? - same area - Bozeman MT.

Steve Kilwein- Same injuries...

"According to the death certificate, his death was caused by “multiple chop-type injuries.”
Kurt said whoever cut his father’s life short walked in and out of the house on a Sunday morning in a residential neighborhood without getting caught"

Bozeman Police look for information regarding 2021 cold case

Great find. Now I am wondering if we should look at missing persons' cases around the Bozeman area. And unsolved murders. How often are "chop-type injuries" listed as cause of death even nation wide?

 

[MountainGal33]

Great find. Now I am wondering if we should look at missing persons' cases around the Bozeman area. And unsolved murders. How often are "chop-type injuries" listed as cause of death even nation wide?

I do not believe "chop like injuries" are common at all. And yes, I am gonna dig a bit in that area and see what I find. It's just too similar...

 

[RedHaus]

I do not believe "chop like injuries" are common at all. And yes, I am gonna dig a bit in that area and see what I find. It's just too similar...

Great. And I hate to suggest this, but should we also look at MPs in the Bozeman / Big Sky area who were in the construction industry, if any?

 

[Kurzz10]

Does anyone remember this cold case from 2021? - same area - Bozeman MT.

Steve Kilwein- Same injuries...

"According to the death certificate, his death was caused by “multiple chop-type injuries.”
Kurt said whoever cut his father’s life short walked in and out of the house on a Sunday morning in a residential neighborhood without getting caught"

Bozeman Police look for information regarding 2021 cold case

I had never heard of this one and unfortunately not a lot of traffic on the websleuth forum for Steven. I have done a bit of research on Google and came across this article.

The unsolved murder of Steven Kilwein

KRTV will air a special report about the continuing investigation on our evening newscasts on Sunday, May 5, and Monday, May 6, 2024.

www.krtv.com

Interesting to note that this type of homicide is very uncommon in that area, as are unsolved cases. Definitely feels a bit eerie to me. I couldn't find anything else similar in nature in Bozeman, but will keep looking. Thanks for posting!

 

[mickey2942]

Great. And I hate to suggest this, but should we also look at MPs in the Bozeman / Big Sky area who were in the construction industry, if any?

There was Paul Batson (?), he disappeared around Livingston or Big Timber, his thread is here too.

Unsolved Missing and Murder Cases in Montana | Uncovered

uncovered.com