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

[MntnHiker]

We still haven't heard where he was supposed to meet his friend on Friday, right? I know they planned to camp together that weekend. But his friend didn't find him until Saturday, so my assumption (which could be incorrect) is that they were meeting somewhere else besides the campsite. Otherwise, wouldn't he have found him on Friday afternoon?

I am NOT casting any suspicion on the friend (I actually am leaning toward a random/stranger attack so far), but I am curious about the friend's timeline. What kept him from going to the campsite on Friday when Dustin didn't show up wherever they were supposed to meet? Maybe he didn't know Dustin had gone up early to camp and thought he might be at home? Or working?

I don't have any real reason why, but I am currently leaning towards a random/stranger attack. Maybe another camper. Maybe a hunter. Perhaps a conversation or even confrontation happened that got someone mad and they came back during the night. Some people jump to murder over seemingly very small, trivial things.

 

[RickshawFan]

In this article today, it references (oblique, mind you), that DK's truck may be missing. If true, was theft a motive?

"Kjersem was driving a black 2013 Ford F-150 with a black topper and a silver aluminum ladder rack, and police have asked the public to come forward with any information they might have..."

""Think of the whole canyon," Captain Nathan Kamerman said at the news conference. "If you saw something weird in the canyon area, or in town with his truck, please reach out to us.""

IMO.

Yes, I think this wasn’t someone out for fresh air and exercise in the great outdoors. That’s why they call the spot a “makeshift campsite”. But that also means looking for a perp in the non-wilderness, unless there’s a fugitive in them thar woods

 

[RickshawFan]

We still haven't heard where he was supposed to meet his friend on Friday, right? I know they planned to camp together that weekend. But his friend didn't find him until Saturday, so my assumption (which could be incorrect) is that they were meeting somewhere else besides the campsite. Otherwise, wouldn't he have found him on Friday afternoon?

I am NOT casting any suspicion on the friend (I actually am leaning toward a random/stranger attack so far), but I am curious about the friend's timeline. What kept him from going to the campsite on Friday when Dustin didn't show up wherever they were supposed to meet? Maybe he didn't know Dustin had gone up early to camp and thought he might be at home? Or working?

I don't have any real reason why, but I am currently leaning towards a random/stranger attack. Maybe another camper. Maybe a hunter. Perhaps a conversation or even confrontation happened that got someone mad and they came back during the night. Some people jump to murder over seemingly very small, trivial things.

The friend might not have known exactly where he was camping, and so had to look for him. They had no way to communicate. No reason this couldn’t have taken several hours.

Random while camping would be extremely rare. The only one recently-ish that I can think of was Schulte and Turner near Moab, and that was very possibly a hate crime, not random. Incidentally, there’s an old unsolved case near Oakridge in OR that was likely random (though not certain) in an unmarked campsite, maybe similar to this one. IIRC in that case, the couple came from Montana, and LE looked at MT for clues.

10 years later: 'My heart feels as broken today as the day I found out'

{p}Sheriff's deputies closed surrounding campgrounds and roads in July 2005. They interviewed every camper who was in the area that busy Fourth of July weekend. But no one knew of the murders. None of the other campers heard any gunshots. The case went cold.{/p}

katu.com

 

[RickshawFan]

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.

Very rare: much higher risk in town. There’s usually some “in-town” reason for this type of event.

 

[RedHaus]

Is there a link for the significant skull damage?

There are many online MSM references to answer your question. Here is one. IMO, a chop wound is 'significant skull damage'.

"During a news conference Wednesday, Sheriff Dan Springer said the autopsy revealed Kjersem had “multiple chop wounds,” including into his skull."

https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/montana-man-killed-homicide-not-bear-attack/

 

[Knox]

I think this is a random stranger - someone unstable who thinks Dustin was in their 'spot' maybe.

I had the exact opposite thought. He was targeted by someone who knew he would be alone there.

But the weapon doesn’t sound like it would be a preplanned choice. Rather something that was at the scene or one that a person would have while camping.

Hoping folks are calling in tips for LE. We all want to be safe while camping, this is a horrendous crime. If it’s random, that’s a threat to us all.

 

[Knox]

I'm still having difficulty believing that his truck was parked in the lot by hwy 191. I haven't seen that written anywhere in the media or mentioned by LE. One poster hear said they heard it on the TV. I looked at the online article associated with that channel at time and there was no mention of his truck being parked by the highway. It's possible that the reporter worded it poorly as the phrase in the article says his tent was set up 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Rd from hwy 191, The assumption may have been made that it was ONLY his tent that was there, even though there was no mention of his truck at the time.
Hopefully we'll get clarification soon, but for now we don't have solid proof of where his truck was found.

Thanks for this, that didn’t make any sense. Likely a reporting error.

 

[RedHaus]

But the weapon doesn’t sound like it would be a preplanned choice. Rather something that was at the scene or one that a person would have while camping.

RSBM
I agree with you, @Knox . IMO the weapon may have been inside DK's tent, likely as a simple protective device against bears or other predators... in this case, human(s).

 

[Knox]

We still haven't heard where he was supposed to meet his friend on Friday, right? I know they planned to camp together that weekend. But his friend didn't find him until Saturday, so my assumption (which could be incorrect) is that they were meeting somewhere else besides the campsite. Otherwise, wouldn't he have found him on Friday afternoon?

I am NOT casting any suspicion on the friend (I actually am leaning toward a random/stranger attack so far), but I am curious about the friend's timeline. What kept him from going to the campsite on Friday when Dustin didn't show up wherever they were supposed to meet? Maybe he didn't know Dustin had gone up early to camp and thought he might be at home? Or working?

I don't have any real reason why, but I am currently leaning towards a random/stranger attack. Maybe another camper. Maybe a hunter. Perhaps a conversation or even confrontation happened that got someone mad and they came back during the night. Some people jump to murder over seemingly very small, trivial things.

Maybe Dustin was supposed to pick the friend up and never showed. I agree, it would be helpful to hear details from his friend.

 

[mickey2942]

Not sure if this article will be blocked for anyone, but I will summarize a few highlights.

1. No mention of exact location of his truck.
2. "Significant skull damage"
3. People have asked if there is a threat to the general community, and LEO says that they don't know, but to be vigilant.
4. Request by LEO that anyone in the area, come forward if they have any information at all.

'We lost our brother': Sheriff asking for help in investigating Belgrade man’s campsite homicide

Dustin Kjersem, 35, was a loving and adoring father, his sister Jillian Price said during a press conference Wednesday.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

 

[Knox]

Springer said Kjersem’s tent was found in an informal but often-used campsite typical of Forest Service lands, about 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road near Tamphery Creek Road. A fair number of hunters, outfitters and campers frequent the fairly remote area.

'We lost our brother': Sheriff asking for help in investigating Belgrade man’s campsite homicide

Dustin Kjersem, 35, was a loving and adoring father, his sister Jillian Price said during a press conference Wednesday.

www.bozemandailychronicle.com

 

[Knox]

What is in season for hunting right now in this area?

 

[Kittybunny]

What a horrible murder! Although the MO is different and much more up close and personal, this has a feel of the Malibu Creek State Park shootings:

Thread 'CA - Malibu Creek State Park Shooting, Tristan Beaudette, 35, 22 June 2018 *Arrest*'

Jun 24, 2018

Man fatally shot at Malibu Creek State Park campground identified - L.A. Times

Father Shot While Camping At Malibu Creek State Park Identified - CBS L.A.

The father of two young girls fatally shot while camping early Friday morning in Malibu Creek State Park has been identified as 35-year-old Tristan Beaudette of Irvine.

Deputies said they have no leads, no suspect and no motive.

Beaudette leaves behind his wife, Erica, and two young daughters, aged 2 and 4.

Friend said Beaudette took the girls camping so that Erica could study for a big test she was studying for...​

• Wire154a
• Replies: 1,003
• Forum: In the News

• 

There were other shootings and ultimately they caught a drifter and a thief. There were 7 other shootings before this fatal one: Man found guilty of murder in mysterious 2018 Malibu state park campground shooting

I wonder if there have been any other incidents, threats, etc?

 

[Knox]

What a horrible murder! Although the MO is different and much more up close and personal, this has a feel of the Malibu Creek State Park shootings:

Thread 'CA - Malibu Creek State Park Shooting, Tristan Beaudette, 35, 22 June 2018 *Arrest*'

Jun 24, 2018

Man fatally shot at Malibu Creek State Park campground identified - L.A. Times

Father Shot While Camping At Malibu Creek State Park Identified - CBS L.A.

The father of two young girls fatally shot while camping early Friday morning in Malibu Creek State Park has been identified as 35-year-old Tristan Beaudette of Irvine.

Deputies said they have no leads, no suspect and no motive.

Beaudette leaves behind his wife, Erica, and two young daughters, aged 2 and 4.

Friend said Beaudette took the girls camping so that Erica could study for a big test she was studying for...​

• Wire154a
• Replies: 1,003
• Forum: In the News

• 

There were other shootings and ultimately they caught a drifter and a thief. There were 7 other shootings before this fatal one: Man found guilty of murder in mysterious 2018 Malibu state park campground shooting

I wonder if there have been any other incidents, threats, etc?

I had forgotten about that case, truly frightening!!

I think this case will be different though. The weapon choice indicates it wasn’t planned, IMO.

 

[mickey2942]

What is in season for hunting right now in this area?

HUNT :: Hunting Seasons | Montana FWP

Information on hunting season dates in Montana.

fwp.mt.gov

Now. The bow hunt has been open since September. But it has been so unseasonably warm, no one has hardly gone out.

He may have just been camping to enjoy being outside.

 

[arielilane]

Is there a link for the significant skull damage?

It’s not clear what the weapon was, but “we do know it was something hard enough to cause significant damage to the skull as well as some flesh areas of the body,” Sheriff Dan Springer said.

Man's death initially reported as bear attack investigated as 'vicious' homicide
Oct. 18, 2024, 9:31 AM EDT

 

[georgiajean]

I had the exact opposite thought. He was targeted by someone who knew he would be alone there.

But the weapon doesn’t sound like it would be a preplanned choice. Rather something that was at the scene or one that a person would have while camping.

Hoping folks are calling in tips for LE. We all want to be safe while camping, this is a horrendous crime. If it’s random, that’s a threat to us all.

Your post makes me think that perhaps it was a confrontation. People knew where he planned to go, small community so everyone knows what vehicle people drive. So maybe someone went up to confront him, things went south, there was an ax handy.

 

[arielilane]

Kjersem went camping northeast of Big Sky, Montana, on Oct. 10 with plans to meet a friend the next day, Springer said.

The friend found the body on Saturday, the sheriff said. Another person identified only as an “associate” called 911 and reported it as a possible bear mauling, said Capt. Nate Kamerman with the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.

It’s unknown when he died.

Camper found dead in tent not attacked by bear, authorities say someone killed him

Fri, October 18th 2024 at 4:26 PM

The sheriff’s office asked that anyone with a trail camera or game camera in the Moose Creek area reach out to authorities.

 

[georgiajean]

I'm still having difficulty believing that his truck was parked in the lot by hwy 191. I haven't seen that written anywhere in the media or mentioned by LE. One poster hear said they heard it on the TV. I looked at the online article associated with that channel at time and there was no mention of his truck being parked by the highway. It's possible that the reporter worded it poorly as the phrase in the article says his tent was set up 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Rd from hwy 191, The assumption may have been made that it was ONLY his tent that was there, even though there was no mention of his truck at the time.
Hopefully we'll get clarification soon, but for now we don't have solid proof of where his truck was found.

I will add that in the reviews for this dispersed campground 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Rd, off Hwy 191, everyone refers to parking. (source Campendium) They are all parking at their campsites. References to "tight parking" or "only room for 1 or 2 vehicles," that kind of thing. So hypothetically, if a group of more than one vehicle was camping at a spot, they may have gone up, gotten unpacked, and then everyone parked in the lot off hwy 191 and ferried up in one vehicle.

Now that I think of that, that may be why friend and DK were going to meet up on Friday afternoon and go up to the campsite together, to avoid congestion.

 

[arielilane]

Kjersem was camping in an unofficial campground in a remote forest. The location of the killing makes the investigation more complicated, Springer said. There is no cell service in the area, so there's no record of calls that could have helped investigators.

Camper believed to be mauled by bear actually victim of homicide: Police
Updated Oct 18, 2024 at 4:08 PM EDT