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

[Lucy6226]

Do we know if the victim was found intact? Wondering about the reason for taking the cooler.

That thought had also crossed my mind

 

[atomicsciencegal]

That thought had also crossed my mind

I’m going to say that thankfully the thought had NOT crossed my mind, lol.

But on a serious note, do we know at all if the cooler contents had been dumped?

 

[georgiajean]

I’m going to say that thankfully the thought had NOT crossed my mind, lol.

But on a serious note, do we know at all if the cooler contents had been dumped?

Or was the cooler empty, awaiting fish from the river?

 

[RedHaus]

Or was the cooler empty, awaiting fish from the river?

Yes. I wonder if DK had multiple coolers given his truck and tent size... perhaps one for food for planned meals; one for bevvies like beer, soda, water; and one for cleaned fish or game meat if hunting / fishing was planned by DK and his friend.

 

[mickey2942]

That would be an anomaly, going camping without food!

 

[Knox]

That would be an anomaly, going camping without food!

It was said Dustin really enjoyed cooking outdoors, to the degree he prepared marinated meat in advance.

"Dustin loved to cook in the woods, Anderson said, bringing along marinated steak or chicken thighs for a feast" ...

'He was a Montana boy': Family, friends mourn homicide victim Dustin Kjersem

Dustin was the baby and only boy of the family. When he moved in with Price as a teenager, she remembers how helpful he was with her then two-year-old daughter.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

 

[loreet]

It was said Dustin really enjoyed cooking outdoors, to the degree he prepared marinated meat in advance.

"Dustin loved to cook in the woods, Anderson said, bringing along marinated steak or chicken thighs for a feast" ...

'He was a Montana boy': Family, friends mourn homicide victim Dustin Kjersem

Dustin was the baby and only boy of the family. When he moved in with Price as a teenager, she remembers how helpful he was with her then two-year-old daughter.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

Thank you Knox! I missed this. Also thank you RedHaus for the post about DK bringing multiple coolers. That is likely I think.

Prepared meats and more perishable items for sure would have been kept in the Yeti. This is how we pack for camping: meats and cheese, milk/cream for coffee all go into the yeti. Again I will say this is an awesome cooler. The other — Coleman and Igloo coolers — are for other items that aren’t *as* perishable. Beverages. Oh and then a smaller ‘front seat cooler’ for easy access to road trip beverages, sandwiches, and snacks.

 

[Data Sleuth]

That would be an anomaly, going camping without food!

Correct, I have camped for many years. I seriously doubt that he would have planned on camping without taking the essentials, including frozen, or freeze dried food or fresh veggies etc. Any food obtained through fishing or hunting would be a bonus.

 

[georgiajean]

Correct, I have camped for many years. I seriously doubt that he would have planned on camping without taking the essentials, including frozen, or freeze dried food or fresh veggies etc. Any food obtained through fishing or hunting would be a bonus.

Agreed. I was working under the thought that DK had multiple coolers. A separate one to store fish caught on the trip, and one for beverages, and one for food. Heck, maybe he had a little fridgerator hooked up to a generator.... It sounds like his walled tent was like a little "man cave".

 

[RedHaus]

It's a wee bit of new information that may address questions we've had and lead to more!

Questions we've had:
1) Was DK's truck at his campsite?, and
2) Why did LE ask the public for sightings of DK's truck in the area, 10/10-12?

"[DK]'s pickup truck was found after his body was discovered. (Gallatin County Sheriff's Office)"

I presume from this LE statement DK's truck was NOT at his campsite. And if correct, now I wonder:

Possible New Questions:
3) Where was his truck found?
4) If DK drove his truck from his campsite, why did he leave? to where?
5) Did DK or someone else drive DK's truck to where it was found?
6) If DK drove his truck elsewhere, how did he get back to his campsite?
7) If someone else drove DK back to his campsite in another vehicle, is that who killed him?
8) Did the killer(s) steal DK's truck and then abandon it for another exit path?
9) And if #8 is true, does that mean:
a) perp was on foot, or
b) two perps arrived by a 2nd vehicle?, or
c) perp(s)'s mode of transport (e.g. bicycle, motorbike, ATV, car) was found at DK's campsite?

(Re: #9c, recall, LE stated they found some things that did not belong at the campsite)

IMO.
ETA: link and #8, #9

 

[arielilane]

Perhaps it's already been mentioned [havent kept up w/the thread] but hopeful LE is checking sites for anyone who may try to sell items stolen from DK. Not too sure about a killer keeping them as souvenirs. jmo





Specifically, authorities said they were looking for a blue and silver Estwing camp axe, likely with a 26" handle, as well as a Remington 11-87 12ga shotgun and Ruger Blackhawk .44mag revolver. The sheriff's office said it was also looking for an orange Tundra 45 cooler made by YETI.

"If you see these items, don't touch them and immediately report them," the office said in the post, which included images of the axe and cooler.

Axe taken from crime scene after Montana camper's brutal murder, authorities say, as killer remains at large

Dustin Kjersem was initially reported to have been killed by a bear — but officials soon discovered he was actually the victim of a brutal homicide.

www.cbsnews.com

Updated on: October 28, 2024 /

 

[georgiajean]

6 min. interview with JP, DK's sister at the top of this article Crime scene clue could help solve young dad's camping trip murder as killer remains on the loose. Some quotes from this video have been in some articles. It is good to listen to the whole thing. Heartbreaking.

 

[georgiajean]

This is new to me, journalist interviews sheriff, and visits the campsite (on video).

 

[georgiajean]

HUGE NEWS
From Gallatin County Sheriff:
"The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect in the Moose Creek homicide. The suspect is currently in custody on unrelated charges. The suspect is cooperating with our detectives and has led us to the evidence we have identified in prior press releases."

https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/posts/883181600669835

 

[Knox]

Gallatin County Sheriff's Office​

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect in the Moose Creek homicide. The suspect is currently in custody on unrelated charges. The suspect is cooperating with our detectives and has led us to the evidence we have identified in prior press releases.

The investigation into this homicide continues. It is believed the suspect acted alone and there is no longer a threat to the community. Further details and charges are forthcoming, but it is important for this community to know they are safe to resume their outdoor activities. The Sheriff’s Office will have no further comment in regard to this investigation until charges are filed.

I want to thank the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Detectives for their unrelenting pursuit of justice on this case. They have worked day and night for nearly three weeks with limited sleep, limited time with their families and limited time to themselves. They have prioritized the safety of this community and the need to locate Dustin Kjersem’s killer above all else. It is this type of dedication that makes the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement officers special. This community should be proud of the men and women who have chosen a life of service to keep you, your families, and your friends safe.

I would also like to thank the multiple other agencies who have dedicated their time and energy into this case. The Montana Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Montana State Crime lab, the Montana Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole, the Medical Examiner’s office, the Montana Highway Patrol, the Missouri River Drug Task Force, Jefferson County Montana Sheriff's Office, Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Custer Gallatin National Forest and Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue.

Our thoughts and prayers continue for the family of Dustin Kjersem. We hope, by some small measure, our efforts can bring them a bit of peace during this horrific time. Our entire community mourns with you.

- Sheriff Dan Springer

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Happy to see progress in this case, jail roster linked below.

https://gallatin-so-mt.zuercherportal.com/#/inmates

 

[vls12345]

HUGE NEWS
From Gallatin County Sheriff:
"The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect in the Moose Creek homicide. The suspect is currently in custody on unrelated charges. The suspect is cooperating with our detectives and has led us to the evidence we have identified in prior press releases."

https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/posts/883181600669835

Wow. Kudos to LE. Waiting to find out further details.

In the meantime, here is the Gallatin County inmate roster, which can be sorted by arrest date.

https://gallatin-so-mt.zuercherportal.com/#/inmates

 

[loreet]

HUGE NEWS
From Gallatin County Sheriff:
"The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect in the Moose Creek homicide. The suspect is currently in custody on unrelated charges. The suspect is cooperating with our detectives and has led us to the evidence we have identified in prior press releases."

https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/posts/883181600669835

OMG YAY! Thank you for sharing this so quickly!

 

[loreet]

Gallatin County Sheriff's Office​

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect in the Moose Creek homicide. The suspect is currently in custody on unrelated charges. The suspect is cooperating with our detectives and has led us to the evidence we have identified in prior press releases.

The investigation into this homicide continues. It is believed the suspect acted alone and there is no longer a threat to the community. Further details and charges are forthcoming, but it is important for this community to know they are safe to resume their outdoor activities. The Sheriff’s Office will have no further comment in regard to this investigation until charges are filed.

I want to thank the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Detectives for their unrelenting pursuit of justice on this case. They have worked day and night for nearly three weeks with limited sleep, limited time with their families and limited time to themselves. They have prioritized the safety of this community and the need to locate Dustin Kjersem’s killer above all else. It is this type of dedication that makes the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement officers special. This community should be proud of the men and women who have chosen a life of service to keep you, your families, and your friends safe.

I would also like to thank the multiple other agencies who have dedicated their time and energy into this case. The Montana Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Montana State Crime lab, the Montana Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole, the Medical Examiner’s office, the Montana Highway Patrol, the Missouri River Drug Task Force, Jefferson County Montana Sheriff's Office, Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Custer Gallatin National Forest and Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue.

Our thoughts and prayers continue for the family of Dustin Kjersem. We hope, by some small measure, our efforts can bring them a bit of peace during this horrific time. Our entire community mourns with you.

- Sheriff Dan Springer

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

Happy to see progress in this case, jail roster linked below.

https://gallatin-so-mt.zuercherportal.com/#/inmates

Yay! Thank you for sharing!

 

[whitelilac]

Well....
from the above links

"The suspect is cooperating with our detectives and has led us to the evidence we have identified in prior press releases."
Wonder which evidence? The belongings that were taken?

and "unrelated charges", also wonder what these might be. Individual appears to be involved in other criminal or illegal acts.

 

[LookingForClues]

'He was a Montana boy': Family, friends mourn homicide victim Dustin Kjersem

Dustin was the baby and only boy of the family. When he moved in with Price as a teenager, she remembers how helpful he was with her then two-year-old daughter.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

Must read story.

This article is one of the best I've read in a very long time, anywhere. It gives background and details, sets the scene for what happened and what LE knows, and also helps you know the victim of this vicious murder. I remember when journalism was always like this.