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

[georgiajean]

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.)

Nice capture!
I wonder which one was Dustin's site.

 

[Kurzz10]

This is terrifying. I'd also like to know friends alibi..

 

[georgiajean]

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.

My gut instinct is they were meeting in town (20 miles away), maybe for an early dinner, and then driving up for the weekend of camping, in Dustin's truck. Parking is tight up in the dispersed camping area, and the road is really rough (maybe the friend didn't have a good vehicle to drive up that rough road?). Clearly the friend knew where Dustin was, approximately. So maybe he drove down there Friday afternoon when Dustin didn't show up at their meeting place, as you hypothesized, but didn't want to go up the road and get stuck. Next day, he came back with a rough road worthy vehicle. All MOO.

I was on a community thread, and people were talking about what a mild fall it has been so far, really warm, and this week was the first frost of the season.

 

[georgiajean]

This is terrifying. I'd also like to know friends alibi..

Agreed. The police and media are protecting his identity right now. I believe there is more to this story.
There is a set up for his child/children (it is confusing because only one child has been mentioned up to this point, and one child is pictured in the . I believe there is more to this story.

 

[georgiajean]

This video news report has a number of photos of Dustin so far unseen in the media.

Also has pictures of the yellow caution tape up at the campsite, and some screen shots from the same 3D mapping tool I posted earlier. The location Four Corners is used as a starting point.
edited to remove double link

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

CNN October 18, 2024 online article by Faith Karimi entitled ‘A 911 caller found his friend’s body and thought he was the victim of a bear attack. Police now say it was a homicide’:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/18/us/dustin-kjersem-death-big-sky-montana-cec/index.html

 

[whitelilac]

This is terrifying. All he wanted to do was enjoy nature with his buddy.
My daughter goes hiking and camping in remote areas, with no cell service.....never alone though. I hold my breath every time till she's back.

What on earth would be the motive here ? Seems Dustin was well liked. A crazy person, an argument that went badly sideways?
So very sorry for his child, and loved ones.

 

[georgiajean]

Bit of logistics for travel and such. Dustin is said to have lived in Belgrade, MT. This is on hwy 85 (a N/S road).
South of Belgrade is Four Corners. the road becomes Hwy 191 (the media video I posted above used Four Corners as the start of their map to Moose Creek)
South of Four Corners is Gallatin Gateway
20 miles south of Gallatin Gateway is the turnoff to Moose Creek Rd dispersed camping.
If Dustin lived in Belgrade, that is a 40 min drive to the turn off for Moose Cr Rd camping.

On Fri Oct 11, sunset was 6:34 pm and twilight ended 7:03 pm
On Sat, Oct 12, sunrise was 7:36 am.

 

[RedHaus]

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 this seems plausible and matches how I'm sorting the little data released by LE.

The big question in my mind right now is what was DK's timeline from late Thurs., 10/10 pm and Sat., 10/12 am when he was found dead?

The fact LE is asking the public for information about sightings of DK's truck in the area during that window, makes me wonder the following:

1. Was DK out with his truck Thursday or Friday night, perhaps meeting up with other friends or a love interest even?

2. Was anyone staying with DK at the campground Th. or Fri. night, and if so, had he picked them up with his truck?

3. If DK had left his campsite in his truck, did he run into the wrong person / people and either brought them back to his campsite or was followed there?

4. Was DK's truck used by someone else while DK was at the campground either with or without DK's permission?

5. Where exactly was DK's truck found? We know LE has the truck, but I don't believe we know yet where it was found.

6. Was DK's truck found somewhere other than the campsite, so LE knows someone else drove it to that location?

7. Alternatively, if the truck was found at the campsite, was there forensic evidence the truck had left the campsite, such as purchase receipt(s) dated later on 10/10 or 10/11 for food, water, charcoal, propane, booze, MJ, etc.

I am sure LE has many of these answers already. And hopefully the FBI engages.

All IMO.
ETA: #2 and clarify #7.

 

[Cryptic]

What on earth would be the motive here ? Seems Dustin was well liked. A crazy person, an argument that went badly sideways?

I would check for any "land claimers". These characters will "claim" public land, then try to intimidate / harass others from entering it.

The intimidation / harassment can be direct (assaults, verbal threats, vandalized cars etc). Or, in the case that happened to me personally, passive. The "claimer" had posted a series of No Trespassing signs. I went to the Game Warden and city attorney. They later confirmed the signs were illegal.

All the above aside.....

One thing that detracts from the possibility of a rage filled attack by a "claimer" seems to be the lack of a build up. I don't know if other hikers, campers, hunters have complained of escalating harassment or vandalism in the past.

 

[georgiajean]

This is terrifying. All he wanted to do was enjoy nature with his buddy.
My daughter goes hiking and camping in remote areas, with no cell service.....never alone though. I hold my breath every time till she's back.

What on earth would be the motive here ? Seems Dustin was well liked. A crazy person, an argument that went badly sideways?
So very sorry for his child, and loved ones.

BBM
I have been wrestling with this same question. Because the killing was so very violent, and required up-close and personal contact with DK, I am leaning towards personal or an insane person. There is so little information about his life, who knew him, etc, except for the outpouring of love and support for him from family, friends, community. Could someone have intended to scare him to make him change his mind about something, and it got out of hand? Are there jilted lovers, and ex, a custody battle, or other personal/relationship issues?

 

[arielilane]

The sheriff’s office asked for anyone present in the Moose Creek area from the evening of Oct. 10 to the early morning hours to Oct. 12 to reach out to the sheriff’s office and anyone with trail or game cameras to reach out, “even if the footage seems irrelevant.”

Man's death initially reported as bear attack investigated as 'vicious' homicide

Dustin Mitchell Kjersem, 35, was found dead in his tent on Oct. 12. He died after sustaining multiple chop wounds and his death has been ruled a homicide, officials said.

www.nbcnews.com

Oct. 18, 2024, 9:31 AM EDT


“We don’t have enough information to know at this time but we do know that someone was out there who killed someone in a very heinous way. So if you're out there in the woods … you need to remain vigilant.”

Anyone with information can call the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office at 406-582-2121 and leave a message during business hours or after hours at 406-582-2100 and select option 1 to reach a dispatcher.

 

[arielilane]

@Gallatin_County

The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public’s assistance on the homicide of Dustin Kjersem, whose body was discovered on Saturday, Oct. 12, in a tent approximately 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road. Dustin was last seen on Thursday, Oct. 10.

6:25 PM · Oct 16, 2024

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846678791432949930

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846678786534003178

@Gallatin_County

...or observed something out of place—please come forward. Even the smallest detail could be crucial to the investigation.


6:25 PM · Oct 16, 2024

 

[arielilane]

What a horrible tragic murder on this young man. I am not caught up on the case, but did read he had significant damage to the skull as well as some areas of the body.

Does it sound personal, perhaps someone known to the victim, wanted revenge or was this an attempt to steal from Dustin? jmo

 

[arielilane]

The friend was the one who called and alerted 911, telling responders the death appeared to have been caused by a bear attack, Springer said.

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.clarionledger.com

'A skilled tradesman and a loving father'​

Speaking at the press conference, Kjersem's sister Jillian Price requested the community to step forward and help determine her brother's killer. Price said Kjersem, who was born in Bozeman and worked all over the Gallatin Valley, was a skilled tradesman and a loving father.

"I asked our community to please find out who did this," Price said. "There is someone in our valley who is capable of truly heinous things."

 

[Snoopster]

BBM
I have been wrestling with this same question. Because the killing was so very violent, and required up-close and personal contact with DK, I am leaning towards personal or an insane person. There is so little information about his life, who knew him, etc, except for the outpouring of love and support for him from family, friends, community. Could someone have intended to scare him to make him change his mind about something, and it got out of hand? Are there jilted lovers, and ex, a custody battle, or other personal/relationship issues?

Regarding motive, I agree that it is likely either personal or a completely unbalanced person.
Coincidentally, early today I watched a video about the Appalachian Trail killer. Of course I had heard about him before, but I was reminded that this guy had major mental health issues that involved threats and violence.

I contrast this with another person with a personality disorder...Israel Keyes. This serial killer stalked many people who were in isolated areas. The difference with him was that he was not in a paranoid state. He planned his crimes to minimize the chance of being caught, and even had the goal to hide that a crime had even occurred, often hiding the bodies. (ETA: so in Dustin's case, the perp is definitely not an 'organized serial killer'.)

Someone upthread wondered if it could have been someone who was protective of the land and area and didn't like the campers being there. I find this a longshot. Not impossible, but a longshot.

 

[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

(I thought I had posted regarding this earlier, but I've been having computer problems so pardon the double post if I did.)

@georgiajean I was wondering where you got this image from. Specifically I mean where is this physical location? The access road that I see for Moose Creek Road off of hwy 191 based on google maps does not look like this. So I am confused.
Here is the view on google maps:

Moose Creek Rd and US-191

ETA: I'm asking this question since I want to know if a the road in to the campsites is super rough. It doesn't look that way on google maps, but there's no street view past this point.

 

[whitelilac]

^ Speaking of accesses to the campsite, are the roads dirt or asphalt ?
If dirt, I hope they are looking at tire tracks. Evidently there were no, or very few, campers around this time of year.
Sometimes, the tire thread patterns can lead to a vehicle....maybe.