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

[Cryptic]

I don't know what a “makeshift campsite” is. Camping is by definition “makeshift”. Perhaps they mean he wasn’t in a developed campground? Or he was homeless?

I thin your "not in a developed camp ground" possibility is correct.

Evidently, the area has formally designated camping spots. The victim's spot was not a formally designated campsite, but was still used fairly often as a camp site.

 

[acutename]

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.

We do not know exactly when he was killed. I imagine that it is really dark already pretty early- 6:30 pm?... except the moon was nearly full Thurs/Fri. For some one unfamiliar with that area, I would think that finding him and his tent would not be the easiest thing in the dark. I would think he might have been killed in dusk or even in daylight. was he camping over Thurs night too? And what did he do when camping? Fish? Make a camp fire? Go to sleep early? Have a few beers and go to sleep? Also curious if he camped there frequently and other people knew that.
P

 

[RedHaus]

...except the moon was nearly full Thurs/Fri. For some one unfamiliar with that area

RSBM
I believe you are referring to Th/F, 10/17-18.

The moon was 1st quarter and then waxing gibbous on Th/F 10/10-11.

An OP ^^^ posted sunset and twilight end times.

 

[Cryptic]

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.

I also think an enraged stranger could be a possibility. At the same time, some elements seem to detract from it:

- No current evidence of a build up. For example, others have complained of being harassed, cars vandalized etc. by somebody who say, "claimed" a certain trail or campsite.

- The area is not near a city, and therefore less likely to have a drug fogged transient population.

- The victim did not appear to be hunting, so less chances of a confrontation with another hunter over unwritten rules that change over time and are subject to interpretation.

- The area does not appear to be "special". For example, offers the ultimate hunting, flyfishing, surfing, or hiking experience- and has drawn increased crowds seeking "the experience".

Thus, increased chances of confrontations with people who have spent alot of money to have "the experience", have a dim view of outsiders taking over "the experience", and confrontations regarding changing unwritten "experience rules" that are also subject to interpretation. Then factor in that some exempt themselves from the same rules they expect others to follow... ..

 

[mickey2942]

This is really a makeshift area for people who do construction projects in Big Sky, there is tons of work, zero affordable housing. Too far to commute from Bozeman, Belgrade, or even Four Corners. I mean, people do it, but it costs time, the canyon is narrow, lots of animals...easier to find a place to hang out for the week, most people go home over the weekend.

Even getting mail in Big Sky is crazy, almost everyone gets "General Delivery", the list to get a PO Box is about three years long.

 

[vls12345]

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

I guess the weapon wasn't left at the scene then.

If an ax, hatchet, etc. was used, is there a nearby creek where it could have been rinsed off? Would there be any trail cams looking at creeks nearby?

 

[Cryptic]

This is really a makeshift area for people who do construction projects in Big Sky, there is tons of work, zero affordable housing. Too far to commute from Bozeman, Belgrade, or even Four Corners.

Good insight.

I think I spoke too soon about the area not being noted for anything special. It is special in that it serves as a work week "hotel" for construction tradesmen.

The victim was also a skilled tradesman. Maybe....

Victim arrives for the weekend camping and messing around in the woods fun. Most work week "hotel" users are heading back home. One departing tradesman, however, had a deeply personal work related dispute with the victim.

Maybe an argument over contract terms, availability for a certain high end customization, parted ways following an argument at a very inconvenient time- who knows? When leaving, he recognizes the victim, his truck, or both. He then returns and then viciously attacks him?

As a side note, I have read about places in Wyoming and Colorado where the locals have also been totally priced out of areas that they have lived in for generations. One Wyoming hot spot now features a private airport capable of handling business jets. One can be on the Chicago Board of Trade- then be at one's second home mansion in a few hours.

 

[georgiajean]

I finally found the complete Gallatin County Sheriff press conference from Thur/Fri. This is worth listening to, it clears up some confusions.

 

[georgiajean]

I have tried to accumulate the facts we have gathered in this thread into one post for everyone's reference. Please let me know if anything missing, and I will update the document daily as needed and repost/update.

Timeline Dustin Kjersem, found killed on Oct 12, 2024 about 10:00 am.

To get the most complete summary of this case, please watch this Video of Gallatin County Sheriff Springer press conference/report Oct 18. He thought his friend was the victim of a bear attack. Police now say it was a homicide. (youtube.com) This press conference is a source for most everything in this timeline/fact-line. Many of the other sources are quoting this press conference.

Thursday, Oct 10 Afternoon--

• DK packed up his black 2013 F150 truck with black shell and silver lumber rack (Source Gallatin County Sheriff's Office FB) Last known sighting of him was when he was leaving Thurs afternoon (no time giving) Sister of man murdered near Big Sky asks community to help find his killer (kbzk.com) Video Sister of man murdered near Big Sky asks community to help find his killer - YouTube
• Media and LE lists home as Belgrade, but we don't have confirmation of where exactly. Source Oct 15 Gallatin County Sheriff FB
• DK spoke with family/friends before leaving, they confirmed he was going on a planned camping trip to Moose Creek Rd and would be camping with a friend over the weekend. (Needs source)
• There is no cell service in the Moose Creek Rd area. Source KARE 11 Oct. 18 and Campendium Moose Creek dispersed camping
• Moose Creek Rd has dispersed camping. This means there are no amenities like water or toilets. There are camping sites carved out of this wilderness where people have stayed numerous times over the years. These were not sites made by the forest service or park rangers. Just pull-offs where it looks like a good place to pitch a tent. Source Campendium Moose Creek dispersed camping
• Where DK stayed is a "campground" of 10-15 campsites, spread out along Moose Creek. This is where Tamphery Creek road T-bones into Moose Creek Rd, about 2.6 miles up from Hwy 191. Source Campendium Moose Creek dispersed camping
• The road, according to reviews, is rough dirt/rock, and requires a vehicle with good clearance, but 2WD vehicles are able to make it with care. Source Campendium Moose Creek dispersed camping
• Some media reported "makeshift" camp, which is misleading. This isn't an organized campground, but DK's camp was anything but makeshift. DK had an 8x10 or 10x10 'wall tent' and had lots of camping equipment. LE said he was well equipped. LE Press Conference 10-18
• The turnoff to the camping area from hwy 191 is 35 miles south from Belgrade, 26 miles south from Four Corners, and 20 miles south from Gallatin Gateway, Google maps Belgrade to Moose Creek Flat Campground LE reported DK lived in Belgrade. Oct 15 Gallatin County Sheriff FB
• DK was last seen on Thursday afternoon (Source Gallatin County Sheriff's Office FB)

Friday, Oct 11

• A friend/acquaintance of DK said that he and DK were supposed to meet up Friday afternoon, and that he was going camping with DK over the weekend at Moose Creek Rd. KARE 11 Oct. 18
• Friend says DK did not show up to their scheduled meet up.KARE 11 Oct. 18
• Where this meet up was supposed to be has not been disclosed.

Saturday, Oct 12

• The friend calls 911 at 10:07 am to report that DK was in his tent (Note: many sources communicated confusion about this, but the LE press conference made it clear that the friend found him. Sheriff Press Conf 10-18 DK was dead, there was a lot of blood, and the 911 caller thought it was a bear attack (Source KTLA Oct 19 ).
• LE/EMS arrived, secured scene, said it could be a bear attack and called for Bear expert. (need source)
• An expert in bear incidents came to the scene, said there was no evidence this was a bear attack, no scat, no hair, no prints. (Source KTLA Oct 19 ) and Oct 15 Gallatin County Sheriff FB and NY Times Oct 18)

After Oct 12

• It is unknown when he died. Sometime between the evening hours of Thursday and Saturday early morning hours. Murder at Moose Creek: Sheriff's Office seeks help in homicide investigation (kbzk.com)
• LE has his truck, per comment by LE on this FB Post: (Source Gallatin County Sheriff's Office FB) Gallatin County Sheriff's Office: His truck is not missing. Our investigators have it. 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.
• Autopsy reveals this was not a bear attack, it was a human attack with a weapon like an ax, with multiple chops on his body and head. There were chop marks on bone. LE indicates this was an especially vicious attack. (Source KTLA Oct 19 ) and Oct 15 Gallatin County Sheriff FB
• LE is asking for public's help. No cell service, so no ability to track or look for pings.
• They have asked anyone who was in the area, who rides ATVs, who hunts, who has game cameras in the area, or was driving on hwy 191 to review their experience and data to see if there is anything that might help figure out who did this. (Source KTLA Oct 19 )and Gallatin County Sheriff's Office FB) and Murder at Moose Creek: Sheriff's Office seeks help in homicide investigation (kbzk.com)
• DK's sister JP has been public with pleas for help finding his killer. (Source KTLA Oct 19 and Sister of man murdered near Big Sky asks community to help find his killer (kbzk.com)
• DK's sister reports that they have lost "a brother, a son, a father" but does not say "husband or boyfriend or spouse". She describes DK as a hard-working and loving brother and father.
• Video of sister JP’s public plea, including many photos of Dustin. Sister of man murdered near Big Sky asks community to help find his killer - YouTube
• Video that includes footage of the campsite area Man killed while camping near Big Sky identified, homicide investigation ongoing - YouTube
• Video of Gallatin County Sheriff Springer press conference/report Oct 18. He thought his friend was the victim of a bear attack. Police now say it was a homicide. (youtube.com)

Questions:

• Who was the friend? Is his alibi tight?
• Were there any people who had conflicts with DK?
• Where were the friend and DK supposed to meet on Fri afternoon?
• Why was DK supposed to pick the friend up instead of the friend driving there on his own?

 

[whitelilac]

^ Thank you @georgiajean. Excellent factual reference, very helpful.

 

[RickshawFan]

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?

IMO DK was a specific target. The Malibu thing was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

[RickshawFan]

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

I think some clarification is needed, so we don't go off course....

This event did not take place in a campground. A campground would have some kind of facility even if it's just one latrine and a picnic table or two. It would have defined boundaries. And there would be a sign saying "Campground". A "dispersed camping area" is exactly not a campground. This area has NO facilities of any kind. There's no development at all. These are spots along a road and/or river.
There are hundreds of USFS and BLM areas with such spots that people have gone to for years. In some places, they have been numbered and become more or less "official" spots. It keeps the area from being overused by mobs of people, sensitive areas trampled on, etc. This is an area like that, I believe, with numbered spots. Often, when agencies describe "dispersed camping" they mean places like this, where the spots are numbered and definite. We saw this in the Petito case: the white van was not parked in a numbered (i.e. permissible) spot in a "dispersed camping" area.
Years ago, I camped in a "dispersed camping" area near Moab. There's just a little marker with the number of the spot. You must camp at a spot, nothing random. The Ranger dropped by to make sure you weren't doing anything crazy, and he checked that you'd brought a toilet. There was no water (actually, it was high desert). No picnic table, nothing.
These kinds of "dispersed camping" areas are not unofficial. They are designated by a US government agency.
Note, you can camp most any place in a USFS property or BLM, provided it's away from the road and water bodies: this would be "dispersed". But I believe those words are specially used of numbered spots in wilderness. I saw such numbering on a Google map for this area, but can't now find it.

 

[AmandaSkis]

I am not suspecting the friend, but I am still really confused about that part of the timeline. The friend was supposed to meet him somewhere, but we do not know where. Somehow, though, the friend knew where to go look for Dustin.

Just to satisfy my own curiosity, I would be curious why the friend did not go look for Dustin on Friday night at the camp when Dustin did not show up to wherever they were supposed to meet. What made the friend go look on Saturday instead of Friday?

Along those same lines, when Dustin does not show up, what made the friend try to find Dustin on Saturdays? For example, why did the friend not just go back home and wonder what was wrong with Dustin?

 

[georgiajean]

I think some clarification is needed, so we don't go off course....

This event did not take place in a campground. A campground would have some kind of facility even if it's just one latrine and a picnic table or two. It would have defined boundaries. And there would be a sign saying "Campground". A "dispersed camping area" is exactly not a campground. This area has NO facilities of any kind. There's no development at all. These are spots along a road and/or river.
There are hundreds of USFS and BLM areas with such spots that people have gone to for years. In some places, they have been numbered and become more or less "official" spots. It keeps the area from being overused by mobs of people, sensitive areas trampled on, etc. This is an area like that, I believe, with numbered spots. Often, when agencies describe "dispersed camping" they mean places like this, where the spots are numbered and definite. We saw this in the Petito case: the white van was not parked in a numbered (i.e. permissible) spot in a "dispersed camping" area.
Years ago, I camped in a "dispersed camping" area near Moab. There's just a little marker with the number of the spot. You must camp at a spot, nothing random. The Ranger dropped by to make sure you weren't doing anything crazy, and he checked that you'd brought a toilet. There was no water (actually, it was high desert). No picnic table, nothing.
These kinds of "dispersed camping" areas are not unofficial. They are designated by a US government agency.
Note, you can camp most any place in a USFS property or BLM, provided it's away from the road and water bodies: this would be "dispersed". But I believe those words are specially used of numbered spots in wilderness. I saw such numbering on a Google map for this area, but can't now find it.

Great clarification. A lot of words are being used in media reports which confuse the matter further.
This image shows white dots for the dispersed camping spots. (edited to add, if you zoom in when you are on the website linked below, eventually each white dot has a number!) In the lower right corner is a tent symbol, and that is near where DK was camping. There are about 10 or so spots in this area, and it is known as the "Moose Creek Rd Dispersed Camping."
Link to source for image: Moose Creek to Portal Creek Rd, Montana : Off-Road Trail Map & Photos | onX Offroad (Turn to 2D and zoom in to find the #s for the sites)
Link to Campendium's description of this dispersed campground: Moose Creek Road Dispersed Camping Reviews updated 2024

 

[georgiajean]

I am not suspecting the friend, but I am still really confused about that part of the timeline. The friend was supposed to meet him somewhere, but we do not know where. Somehow, though, the friend knew where to go look for Dustin.

Just to satisfy my own curiosity, I would be curious why the friend did not go look for Dustin on Friday night at the camp when Dustin did not show up to wherever they were supposed to meet. What made the friend go look on Saturday instead of Friday?

Along those same lines, when Dustin does not show up, what made the friend try to find Dustin on Saturdays? For example, why did the friend not just go back home and wonder what was wrong with Dustin?

Such good questions and thinking. This is the part of the timeline that really confuses me, too. I am guessing that LE has much more clarity, and since they are protecting the friend's identity I am guessing they believe his story.

Here are my theories, all MOO:
1. Why was DK going to pick up the friend, instead of the friend just driving to the parking area at the bottom of Moose Creek Rd? I feel the answer to that question might provide clues. Maybe the friend didn't have transportation on Friday? Someone else had their car or their vehicle was not working. If that was the case, maybe the friend was able to find a vehicle that could make it up the rough rocky road by Sat morning to go look for him. Did the friend contact anyone else to ask about DK on Friday after DK didn't show up? That would back up his story.
2. It sounds like people knew where he was going, but maybe that was after the fact, we don't know. His sister talked about how he was going camping. Did she know where? Did the mother of his daughter know? I would guess the friend knew where they were going, and it would make sense that he would go look for him, because it is the wilderness and no way for DK to reach out if he needed help. This was a planned weekend "buddy" camping trip. The friend might wonder if DK's vehicle broke down, had flat tire that wasn't fixable, or he was injured/wild animal encounter, etc.
3. It may be that DK was going to pick the friend up because the friend's vehicle was not rough road worthy. Or the parking was so tight there, it just made sense for them to have one vehicle. If that was the case, why didn't the friend drive and leave his car in the parking lot at the base of Moose Creek Rd? Perhaps DK set up the campsite Thursday, and then Friday had errands to run in town, or work to do, and he was supposed to go into town Friday (If that is the case, and he didn't show up to whatever other things he was supposed to do, that would tighten the timeline of his death...).

What do you think happened?

 

[MntnHiker]

I hear what you all are saying re: not thinking it is random as random murders out in the woods/while camping don't happen often. I am open to it being targeted. (To clarify in case we are using terms differently, I am using "targeted" as someone who KNEW Dustin, knew he would be there, and sought out to go harm him. "Random" to me is someone he did not know previously, did not know he would be there, came across him and harmed him even if it was due to a previous confrontation while in the woods and they planned to kill him before doing so - even if only by a few hours).

However, there have been other random/stranger killings while camping. In addition to the ones already listed in the thread, I think of:
-The Schmidt family at Maquoketa Caves in Iowa
-Lollie and Julie in Shenandoah (yes, likely a hate crime as they were a same sex couple but it was still a stranger who happened upon them that they did not know previously)
-Terri Jentz and her friend who were brutally attacked and left for dead, who very likely could have died, while camping in Oregon

Just to name a few that come to my mind without doing any searching. Sure, it may be rare, but it's not unheard of and sometimes things happen that are rare and we don't think it would happen. When Mollie Tibbetts went missing, a lot of people thought there was no way she was abducted or killed by a stranger - many thought she either took off of her own accord or was harmed by someone known to her, but we know that's not the case.

No matter what the cause, what happened to Dustin is tragic. But I am not writing off the possibility it was random. Just because it's unusual doesn't mean it couldn't have happened.

 

[mickey2942]

I believe that LEO probably knows more about this than has been released. And I would hazard a guess, with out trashing the victim, that the perpetrator has no doubt been involved with using drugs, the killing seems quite disorganized and appears to have been done in some sort of manic frenzied state. Hence, the friend thinking it was an animal attack.

Unfortunately, there are still significant drugs issues in Montana, with meth being used and processed here, or brought in from Oregon. Butte, just down the road on I-90, has a huge problem with meth. Same with Billings.

The fourth wave of opioids swamps Montana with meth-fentanyl cocktail • Daily Montanan

The wave of fentanyl and methamphetamine combination is crashing hard on Montana, and many drug users don't even realize how dangerous it is.

dailymontanan.com

 

[RickshawFan]

Great clarification. A lot of words are being used in media reports which confuse the matter further.
This image shows white dots for the dispersed camping spots. (edited to add, if you zoom in when you are on the website linked below, eventually each white dot has a number!) In the lower right corner is a tent symbol, and that is near where DK was camping. There are about 10 or so spots in this area, and it is known as the "Moose Creek Rd Dispersed Camping."
Link to source for image: Moose Creek to Portal Creek Rd, Montana : Off-Road Trail Map & Photos | onX Offroad (Turn to 2D and zoom in to find the #s for the sites)
Link to Campendium's description of this dispersed campground: Moose Creek Road Dispersed Camping Reviews updated 2024

Thanks, yes. That was the map I couldn't find. The sites are not random or disorganized. They're where USFS wants them to be. They're numbered.
This is exactly the kind of dispersed camping as in the Petito case near Grand Teton.

 

[RickshawFan]

I am not suspecting the friend, but I am still really confused about that part of the timeline. The friend was supposed to meet him somewhere, but we do not know where. Somehow, though, the friend knew where to go look for Dustin.

Just to satisfy my own curiosity, I would be curious why the friend did not go look for Dustin on Friday night at the camp when Dustin did not show up to wherever they were supposed to meet. What made the friend go look on Saturday instead of Friday?

Along those same lines, when Dustin does not show up, what made the friend try to find Dustin on Saturdays? For example, why did the friend not just go back home and wonder what was wrong with Dustin?

It's gonna be pitch black out there at night! No way he'd see or find anything if he went Friday night. Night time in the wilderness is INCREDIBLY dark.
If you take a pit stop at night, and aren't paying attention, you can suddenly have NO IDEA where your tent is. That's how limited your vision is at night.

 

[RickshawFan]

Such good questions and thinking. This is the part of the timeline that really confuses me, too. I am guessing that LE has much more clarity, and since they are protecting the friend's identity I am guessing they believe his story.

Here are my theories, all MOO:
1. Why was DK going to pick up the friend, instead of the friend just driving to the parking area at the bottom of Moose Creek Rd? I feel the answer to that question might provide clues. Maybe the friend didn't have transportation on Friday? Someone else had their car or their vehicle was not working. If that was the case, maybe the friend was able to find a vehicle that could make it up the rough rocky road by Sat morning to go look for him. Did the friend contact anyone else to ask about DK on Friday after DK didn't show up? That would back up his story.
2. It sounds like people knew where he was going, but maybe that was after the fact, we don't know. His sister talked about how he was going camping. Did she know where? Did the mother of his daughter know? I would guess the friend knew where they were going, and it would make sense that he would go look for him, because it is the wilderness and no way for DK to reach out if he needed help. This was a planned weekend "buddy" camping trip. The friend might wonder if DK's vehicle broke down, had flat tire that wasn't fixable, or he was injured/wild animal encounter, etc.
3. It may be that DK was going to pick the friend up because the friend's vehicle was not rough road worthy. Or the parking was so tight there, it just made sense for them to have one vehicle. If that was the case, why didn't the friend drive and leave his car in the parking lot at the base of Moose Creek Rd? Perhaps DK set up the campsite Thursday, and then Friday had errands to run in town, or work to do, and he was supposed to go into town Friday (If that is the case, and he didn't show up to whatever other things he was supposed to do, that would tighten the timeline of his death...).

What do you think happened?

No one would have known what site DK was going to ahead of time, though, because the sites are first-come, first-served.