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

[toucan1234]

Please delete if not allowed, but found a Seemingly related story. The names of the daughter and daughter’s mother match here and there is an unnamed older boy who matches the stepson.

Obviously doesn’t mean anything, but somewhat interesting.

 

[AndrewM71]

Does anyone have any color on why in the obit it would mention being survived by a stepson but not some kind of spouse / partner?

I know situations can be complicated, but my general notion is that an ex’s child isn’t commonly referred to as a stepchild?

I don’t think it’s complicated. The spousal relationship ended but the parental relationship endured.

It’s not the norm but not unheard of, and to me suggests an amicable split between the parents.

 

[arielilane]

@Gallatin_County

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the homicide of Dustin Kjersem. We appreciate the information that has been provided by the community and multiple leads are being investigated.


In addition to the information previously provided, we are asking you to be on the lookout for the following items that are believed to have been removed from the scene of the crime:

- Estwing camp axe, blue and silver, likely with a 26” handle (see photo)
- Remington 11-87 12ga shotgun, wood stock
- Ruger Blackhawk .44mag revolver, blued 4 5/8” barrel, wood grips
- Orange YETI brand cooler – Tundra 45 (see photo)

Anyone with info regarding the incident or the items listed is asked to contact the GCSO Detectives Division at 406-582-2121 or by email at [email protected]. If the information is exigent, please contact GCSO dispatch at 406-582-2100 and request to speak with a deputy.


9:00 PM · Oct 24, 2024

 

[arielilane]

@Gallatin_County

Anyone with info regarding the incident or the items listed is asked to contact the GCSO Detectives Division at 406-582-2121 or by email at [email protected]. If the information is exigent, please contact GCSO dispatch at 406-582-2100 and request to speak with a deputy.


9:00 PM · Oct 24, 2024

 

[Data Sleuth]

Thinking that the shotgun and cooler were in the victim’s truck which was parked at his campsite. Seasoned campers know better than to leave a cooler with food/drinks either outside or in a tent while in bear country.
He probably had his revolver in the tent with him (shotgun too big to have in his tent).
So if the perp accessed the truck there should be dna and fingerprint evidence present on the vehicle.

In my opinion the killer definitely had a vehicle somewhere, an orange cooler would be difficult to carry around unnoticed. All JMO.

 

[Occam's Zebra]

Does anyone have any color on why in the obit it would mention being survived by a stepson but not some kind of spouse / partner?

I know situations can be complicated, but my general notion is that an ex’s child isn’t commonly referred to as a stepchild?

How else would you refer to an ex's child that is not yours biologically (and whom you did not adopt)?

If DK had a close relationship with ex's son but did not officially adopt him, I could see the son listed in the obit as "stepson."

 

[sasha17]

Anyone think the fact he took that stuff probably means he's got a vehicle?

For sure. No way one person could walk off too far with all of the missing items. My family has one of those Yeti coolers and they're heavy! Even if the suspect put some of the missing items inside it (I'm not familiar with guns so I'm not sure if the guns would fit inside?), it'd still be a big, heavy thing to lug around and you wouldn't be able to get too far very easily.

 

[Cryptic]

The murder weapon, two firearms and a Yeti ice chest? I can see taking the axe, it could identify the killer. Firearms, yep. But the Yeti? Why?

Perhaps a "supply raid" by a deranged / drug fogged homeless person? Perpetrator murders the victim, then loots the campsite for anything needed?

Or, the perpetrator may have taken the cooler and the camp axe because he recognized the brands as being good quality and relatively valuable?

As a side note, Estwing has a reputation for making good quality tools that are going to be used everyday- but if they are lost or "disappear" from a jobsite, wont cause alot of anguish over replacement cost. I have heard that a good number of tradesmen use the brand.

Yeti products are expensive and are said to really keep things cool. Just as tradesmen may have a preference for Estwing tools, I would not be surprised if a good number of jobsites feature Yeti coolers.

Recognizing these items as valuable / or particularly useful, may suggest that the perpetrator loiters in the area and joins construction crews as a helper or laborer.

 

[Sweeper2000]

For sure. No way one person could walk off too far with all of the missing items. My family has one of those Yeti coolers and they're heavy! Even if the suspect put some of the missing items inside it (I'm not familiar with guns so I'm not sure if the guns would fit inside?), it'd still be a big, heavy thing to lug around and you wouldn't be able to get too far very easily.

The shotgun wouldn't fit in but everything else stated would. Ie handgun and axe. I'm wondering if these were the only items missing though, iwould assume he had some money on him, wallet, cards etc kind of wondering why they would simply take the weapons. Technically no need to take the axe but did anyway.

 

[Cryptic]

For sure. No way one person could walk off too far with all of the missing items.

Your observation could suggest a homeless perpetrator who owns a car. Perhaps he loiters in the area and makes himself available for hire by construction crews as a laborer or helper?

 

[sasha17]

The shotgun wouldn't fit in but everything else stated would. Ie handgun and axe. I'm wondering if these were the only items missing though, iwould assume he had some money on him, wallet, cards etc kind of wondering why they would simply take the weapons. Technically no need to take the axe but did anyway.

If the axe was the murder weapon, the suspect may have taken it with just so it wouldn't be found.

 

[Cryptic]

Technically no need to take the axe but did anyway.

It may of been the brand, rather than the practicality that led to the perpetrator taking the axe. Estwing has a reputation for making quality, but "no nonsense" in regards to price tools.

I believe that a good number of tradesmen use their hammers and other tools. If the perpetrator worked on construction jobs, he may of recognized the brand, then took the axe because its "good".

 

[Sweeper2000]

If the axe was the murder weapon, the suspect may have taken it with just so it wouldn't be found.

Why though? What do they gain from hiding an article that will inevitably be discovered as the weapon even without it being present? Can't see the gain.

 

[sasha17]

Why though? What do they gain from hiding an article that will inevitably be discovered as the weapon even without it being present? Can't see the gain.

If the suspect wasn't wearing gloves, there could be fingerprints or their own DNA on it. I don't think it's unreasonable to think a murderer might want to take the murder weapon with and dispose of it somewhere else (throwing it in a canyon, into a dumpster, hiding it elsewhere, etc.). I'm also not certain someone who has just committed a brutal murder would be thinking logically in the moment!

 

[Knox]

Why though? What do they gain from hiding an article that will inevitably be discovered as the weapon even without it being present? Can't see the gain.

Fingerprints and touch DNA, potentially thier own blood on the murder weapon. It would be dumb not to take it, the evidence found would lead straight to them?

 

[Cryptic]

Why though? What do they gain from hiding an article that will inevitably be discovered as the weapon even without it being present? Can't see the gain.

Objectively, I think you are 100% correct.

And now, the "but". But.... A good many murderers dont operate with rationality of an olde school Mafia hitman. Instead, they go "subjective" and take things on impulse, take pawnable things, take trophies etc.

The, as you noted, irrational taking of "this and that" items may reflect an impulsive perp, a dimwitted perp, somebody mentally unbalanced, drug fogged, or..... a combination of all of the preceding.

 

[Cryptic]

Ruger Blackhawk .44mag revolver, blued 4 5/8” barrel, wood grips

I am not into guns that much, but I believe that olde school "big bore" revolvers made by the historic "big three" companies of Colt, Ruger and Smith and Wesson are expensive.

Likewise, they tend to stand out a little when offered for sale in gun stores or pawnshops because they are not common.

 

[Sweeper2000]

This is assuming that the police have that persons dna. Were there any other efforts to hide anything? My thinking was the axe is what gets them the other stuff ie guns, money etc and is then discarded as it had achieved its use.

 

[STLBlues]

I am not into guns that much, but I believe that "big bore" revolvers made by the "big three" companies of Colt, Ruger and Smith and Wesson are expensive. Likewise, they tend to stand out a little when offered for sale in gun stores or pawnshops because they are uncommon.

New, the Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag is around $900.

 

[Cryptic]

New, the Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag is around $900.

Thanks for the info.

Honestly, I was really hoping for say a $1,100 to $1,200 type selling price- just to make them stand out a little more.