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

[Snoopster]

Here is a screenshot of the general area (I don't know the specific spot) where Dustin was found in his tent. You can see 'campers' dotted along spots along Moose Creek Rd. It looks like it's pretty easy access in a vehicle. And while remote, it is known as an area to camp.

 

[mickey2942]

@Snoopster it was reported on the local news, I just watched it on TV.

Sister of man murdered near Big Sky asks community to help find his killer

The sister of 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem, the Belgrade man found brutally murdered at his Moose Creek campsite on Saturday, is asking the public for help to find his killer.

www.kbzk.com

 

[georgiajean]

Here is a screenshot of the general area (I don't know the specific spot) where Dustin was found in his tent. You can see 'campers' dotted along spots along Moose Creek Rd. It looks like it's pretty easy access in a vehicle. And while remote, it is known as an area to camp.

View attachment 538403

Here is a full description of the camping area from Campendium.

Moose Creek Road Dispersed Camping Reviews updated 2024

Moose Creek Road Dispersed Camping in Custer Gallatin National Forest, Gallatin Gateway Montana. See 4 traveler reviews, 3 photos and blog posts

www.campendium.com

The reviews give good descriptions of the road and the area. Each one describes how busy it was, for being an out of the way place, with lots of hunters. One described seeing people going by on ATVs. It is later, and colder than the September reviews, so I wonder if it was busy last week, and I wonder if whoever did this murder left on an ATV instead of a vehicle.

 

[RedHaus]

Stringing together 4 tidbits of data, below:

It appears LE is investigating what DK and/or his truck was up to between the day he was last seen or heard (Th., 10/10) and the day he was found (Sat.,10/12). And LE has DK's truck.

Although it also sounds like no one known to LE had contact with DK after Thursday afternoon (last seen and heard) until Saturday at 10am when DK was found by his friend.

It seems DK's campsite was remote but accessible and parking his truck at the site was feasible. It also seems the camp was well prepared.

How many other campers were at that site 10/10-10/12? There may be less than early this fall given cooler weather. If there were others camping, is it odd if no one heard or saw anything / one?.

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From this new USA Today article:
"[DK] was last seen in the afternoon on [Th.] Oct. 10... and was driving a... Ford F-150...Detective Nate Kamerman said [DK] was in contact with people Thursday afternoon as he drove up to the campsite... he was missing between Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning..."

"...Kamerman said [DK's] tent was well-kept and had "lots of equipment" in it, indicating he had planned to spend the weekend with his friend there and had set it all up."
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Gallatin County Sheriff's Office
Our investigators have [DK's truck]. But if anyone saw the truck between Oct. 10-12, whether in the area or in town or otherwise, we'd love to hear from them.

 RSBM
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Here is a screenshot of the [camping] area... It looks like it's pretty easy access in a vehicle. And while remote, it is known as an area to camp.

RSBM
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Here is a full description of the camping area from Campendium.. The reviews give good descriptions of the road and the area. Each one describes how busy it was, for being an out of the way place,...

RSBM
All IMO.
ET: fix formatting

 

[georgiajean]

Stringing together 4 tidbits of data, below:

It appears LE is investigating what DK and/or his truck was up to between the day he was last seen or heard (Th., 10/10) and the day he was found (Sat.,10/12).

Although it also sounds like no one known to LE or DK's family and friends had contact with DK Thursday afternoon (last seen and heard) until Saturday at 10am when DK was found by his friend.

It seems DK's campsite was remote but easily accessible and possibly with his truck parked at the site. It also seems the camp was prepared for the weekend.

How many other campers were at that site 10/10-10/12? There may be less this time of year given cooler weather. If there were others camping, is it odd if no one heard or saw or heard anything / one?.

*******************************************
From this new USA Today article: [DK] was last seen in the afternoon on Oct. 10, authorities said, and was driving a black 2013 Ford F-150... Detective Nate Kamerman said [DK] was in contact with people Thursday afternoon as he drove up to the campsite... he was missing between Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning.... Kamerman said [DK's] tent was well-kept and had "lots of equipment" in it, indicating he had planned to spend the weekend with his friend there and had set it all up."
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 RSBM
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RSBM
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RSBM
All IMO.

Great summary! The campground reviews I read on Campendium indicated that while it was crowded, they really couldn't see other campers unless they were moving around (driving, ATVs). So it may be that the campsites were dips into the trees, giving privacy. That makes me concerned that no one would have seen anything, especially if it happened at night, and especially if Dustin wasn't able to shout or make noise.

Edited to add 3 quotes from the reviews:

We could see our neighbors, but there are more secluded spots should you want that!

About 20 spots in the area and where I parked I could not see my nearest 3 neighbors unless I tried.

There are 12~ spots on the first 3 miles of road, probably another 12+ just around the corner past the second gate (gate on left at split, 3 miles).

 

[cuffem]

I had been thinking lately how dangerous it is to go camping in the forrest nowadays. And I do not mean because of wild animals or severe weather or getting lost. I am afraid of the deranged individuals in the woods.

 

[cuffem]

Great summary! The campground reviews I read on Campendium indicated that while it was crowded, they really couldn't see other campers unless they were moving around (driving, ATVs). So it may be that the campsites were dips into the trees, giving privacy. That makes me concerned that no one would have seen anything, especially if it happened at night, and especially if Dustin wasn't able to shout or make noise.

It would be a killer's paradise. Go in as a normal camper, set up, watch for a victim, stalk them to see their camp and habits. Wait for the right time and quietly do the deed while they are vulnerable sleeping and slip out in the dark back to your tent and pack up early am before victim is found right along with other campers leaving the next day.
If you hike in on foot you might not have to register for a site or camp in an area outside of any checks.

I do not mean to make light of Dustin's murder but this scares me. Poor guy enjoying the outdoors and enjoying life.
RIP!

 

[mickey2942]

I had been thinking lately how dangerous it is to go camping in the forrest nowadays. And I do not mean because of wild animals or severe weather or getting lost. I am afraid of the deranged individuals in the woods.

I don't know. This is such an anomaly for the area. I think that we may get more information later. That being said, I haven't gone camping since our dog died. He would bark and growl if anyone or thing was close to our trailer.

 

[Cedars]

I had been thinking lately how dangerous it is to go camping in the forrest nowadays. And I do not mean because of wild animals or severe weather or getting lost. I am afraid of the deranged individuals in the woods.

Me, I'm far, far more fearful of grizzly bears. Grizzlies are unpredictable, they can just be in a bad mood and take it out on a tenter. And there's far more of them than homicidal humans.

Deranged humans don't last long in the woods, they get too cold and run out of food. I wonder if anything was missing from his campsite?

JMO

 

[georgiajean]

Me, I'm far, far more fearful of grizzly bears. Grizzlies are unpredictable, they can just be in a bad mood and take it out on a tenter. And there's far more of them than homicidal humans.

Deranged humans don't last long in the woods, they get too cold and run out of food. I wonder if anything was missing from his campsite?

JMO

BBM. In the USA Today article posted above by RedHaus, it says his tent was well set up with lots of equipment, so that makes me wonder, too. If it was robbery related, why would so much be left? Was it disturbed at all? It also makes me lean towards it was a personal, targeted homicide. Like whoever did this knew him.

 

[tarabull]

Do we know if the friend is male or female???

 

[vls12345]

Do we know if the friend is male or female???

This article references the friend as "he".

Sister of man murdered near Big Sky asks community to help find his killer

The sister of 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem, the Belgrade man found brutally murdered at his Moose Creek campsite on Saturday, is asking the public for help to find his killer.

www.kbzk.com

Bolding & underlining by me.

Authorities in Montana say a 911 caller discovered his friend

That concerned friend went searching for Dustin Saturday morning. He was the one to find him dead in his tent

 

[vls12345]

Montana man reported to be killed in bear attack died by homicide in 'a vicious attack'

The victim, identified as Dustin Mitchell Kjersem, was found dead in a tent, about 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road, north of Big Sky.

www.usatoday.com

 

[AppleTreeGreen]

I wonder if LE or the friend could recall or determine if the door of the tent appeared to have been zipped open? Or if the tent was entered forcefully via a cut through the material? Perhaps this would indicate if perhaps DK knew his assailant or invited them in vs he was unaware of the perp’s presence, because he was perhaps he was asleep for example, and was ambushed?

Hopefully it is also possible, in my opinion, that the perp and the murder weapon was covered in bodily fluids like blood or fibers from DK’s clothes or the tent that would have left a trail or scent that could be identified by forensics and or picked up by tracking dogs so that LE can follow a potential path of escape used by DK’s murderer? Perhaps also maybe footprints or fingerprints at the scene and around the campground or the trail that also contain useful forensic material may be find and prove helpful as well?

My condolences to the family and friends of Dustin Kerjesem, may he rest in peace and may they and LE get justice for his terrible murder.

 

[vls12345]

I wonder if LE or the friend could recall or determine if the door of the tent appeared to have been zipped open? Or if the tent was entered forcefully via a cut through the material?

RSBM.

I wondered this too. If it was initially thought to be a bear attack, I would think the attack would have come from the outside of the tent, through the tent material. MOO.

 

[AppleTreeGreen]

RSBM.

I wondered this too. If it was initially thought to be a bear attack, I would think the attack would have come from the outside of the tent, through the tent material. MOO.

Thinking along the lines the weapon was possibly an axe or machete or some type of tool that is often used among campers or outdoorsmen to collect firewood or cut through bushes or hunt, I wonder too if the weapons left behind traces of dirt, seeds, leaves, blood, scales or fur from a hunt, bark or splinter of wood from the trees or the bushes that maybe can help forensics and LE estimate where it in the forest it was last used by the perp to further help them locate more possible search areas or, based on any related records, CCTV or data from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Preserve Department, possible POIs?

 

[Cedars]

RSBM.

I wondered this too. If it was initially thought to be a bear attack, I would think the attack would have come from the outside of the tent, through the tent material. MOO.

Yes, bears shred it during an attack and don't leave the tent standing up, either, they crush it under their 400 or so lbs of weight.

JMO

 

[mickey2942]

Thinking along the lines the weapon was possibly an axe or machete or some type of tool that is often used among campers or outdoorsmen to collect firewood or cut through bushes or hunt, I wonder too if the weapons left behind traces of dirt, seeds, leaves, blood, scales or fur from a hunt, bark or splinter of wood from the trees or the bushes that maybe can help forensics and LE estimate where it in the forest it was last used by the perp to further help them locate more possible search areas or, based on any related records, CCTV or data from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Preserve Department, possible POIs?

I don't think that there are any cameras there. It is pretty remote. Cell service is also hit or miss in that area. I wouldn't be surprised if the FBI is called in on this investigation, because this seems to be forest service land, if I am not mistaken. They usually have jurisdiction on federal lands, for anything that is a felony. Misdemeanors are handled by Forest Service.

 

[Snoopster]

I'm thinking through the timeline. Dustin was to meet up with his friend on Friday afternoon (perhaps after the friend got of work for the weekend?). We don't know where they were to meet.

Here is one theory as to how it played out. Perhaps Dustin, who got to the area a day earlier, had said I'll meet you at the parking lot by highway 191 and I'll show you to where I ended up setting up camp. The friend shows up and waits. And waits. No Dustin. Calls Dustin. No cell service. It's now getting dark so the friend either drives back to Bozeman to sleep for the night and check with Dustin's other friends. No one has heard from him so the friend gets up early in the morning, drives back to Moose Creek and starts checking the various campsites looking for Dustin's campsite and comes across the terrible scene.

 

[Snoopster]

More info on campground.
Pictures of access road from hwy 191 (granted highways in MT are not what many would expect for highways. Often 2 lanes with no shoulder! Spoken from experience bicycle touring across the country. MT is a very big state.). Moose Creek Dispersed | Wild Camping | United States
View attachment 538428

This is a pretty incredible 2D/3D view of the area. The trail shown on the map is a motorcycle ride, and the campground is a bit difficult to find but if you put it on 2D, and zoom in from 191, up Moose Cr Rd, you can find it. White dots are where the various camping sites are located. Moose Creek to Portal Creek Rd, Montana : Off-Road Trail Map & Photos | onX Offroad

Thanks for posting this. This is a great site with great visuals of the area. Here is a screenshot of the dispersed camping area a couple of miles in off the highway. It gives a good idea the vegetation and landscape and spots where people are likely to camp. (Note: my screenshot view is facing south, rather than north, since it gives a better 3D view of camping area.)