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

[Sweeper2000]

It's looking very much like the weapon used had weight to it so is likely an axe or hammer, most likely something with weight to it.

"Police do not currently know what weapon was used to kill Kjersem, but the object was 'hard enough to cause significant damage to the skull, as well as, the flesh areas of the body,' Springer said."

Montana father camping near Big Sky found murdered in vicious attack

Dustin Kjersem, 35, of Bozeman, was found around 10am on October 12 inside his tent at a remote campsite near Big Sky by a friend he was scheduled to meet.

www.google.com

 

[cheeseDreams]

I was camping and archery hunting a few hours north of this area on Sunday the 13th. Even though the moon wasn't full, it was extremely bright. I was able to walk around in the open areas near my camp and along paths without a flashlight. It should have been the same in the Moose Creek area assuming they didn't have cloud cover.

It's eerie to think I was out so close and didn't even know this had happened.

For those unfamiliar with dispersed camping, you can generally see every car that drives by on the road, and that seems to be the case here from the map. So, anyone camping before his campsite would have seen his and any other cars come in and out. Although, from looking at the maps, you could also access this area from Portal Creek Rd, but it would be a really long way around.

 

[Sweeper2000]

RSBM
I agree with both your points here. Two related thoughts...

1. What if the perp was with DK in the tent Thurs. or Fri. night? That would reduce the defensive gun risk factor for the perp. We know LE has asked for sightings of DK's truck between 10/10 - 10/12. So is LE is considering whether DK or someone else was driving DK's truck around the area after DK set up camp? That could include bringing another friend or acquaintance back to his campsite, non? Hopefully, CCTV along 191 is available.

2. Whether or not the perp was with DK before he was killed, I also wonder if DK was a heavy sleeper, or had a few too many 'bevvies', or if there was partying with other substances that might render DK unconscious or particularly vulnerable to a heinous attack by a psychopath.

I feel for poor DK's soul, his family and friends, and the community. Terrifying.

Thats a good angle. We know he had his phone on him and there has been no suggestion from the friend who was meeting him that he had bought someone along. No calls to this unknown individual? If he was meeting his friend on the Friday I'd bet he would text or say he had. There is the potential that he befriended a random along the way and this random said i"ll stay the night with you and carry on my trek tomorrow ie Friday". I doubt it though, I'd guess he would say to someone he had met someone.

I was thinking he may well have been uti and that would mean you were completely unaware as the perp approached. I'm guessing the perp went to the head first with whatever the implement was, that's lights out at the first blow probably.

LE has said that area is secluded but busy. There is the potential that someone saw him there and can clarify if he was alone or not. To me it's believable that he picked a random for some company and banter until his friend/s came. I don't know if it's been long enough but if he had someone there it's likely that person left at least some trace that there were two people present for longer than the attack itself. DNA on bevvie cans, equipment etc, equipment for two like food wrappers, plates forks etc, LE hasn’t said that so far though so I'm guessing not.

Yeh this guys kids are going without dad who seems like a provider type, the perp needs to be found.

From what LE have said it was a secluded area but busy, to me it means few people in the area increasing the likelihood that the perp would have been seen by anyone in the area. The perp needs to go back to base at some point so it's likely that they were seen going through the limited routes out of those woods. I'm just going to check and see what parking options a vehicle would have in that area. Car parks etc or just some roads etc.

 

[RedHaus]

I was camping and archery hunting a few hours north of this area on Sunday the 13th. Even though the moon wasn't full, it was extremely bright. I was able to walk around in the open areas near my camp and along paths without a flashlight. It should have been the same in the Moose Creek area assuming they didn't have cloud cover.

It's eerie to think I was out so close and didn't even know this had happened.

For those unfamiliar with dispersed camping, you can generally see every car that drives by on the road, and that seems to be the case here from the map. So, anyone camping before his campsite would have seen his and any other cars come in and out. Although, from looking at the maps, you could also access this area from Portal Creek Rd, but it would be a really long way around.

WELCOME TO WEBSLEUTHS, @cheeseDreams! Great first post!

 

[Knox]

I was camping and archery hunting a few hours north of this area on Sunday the 13th. Even though the moon wasn't full, it was extremely bright. I was able to walk around in the open areas near my camp and along paths without a flashlight. It should have been the same in the Moose Creek area assuming they didn't have cloud cover.

It's eerie to think I was out so close and didn't even know this had happened.

For those unfamiliar with dispersed camping, you can generally see every car that drives by on the road, and that seems to be the case here from the map. So, anyone camping before his campsite would have seen his and any other cars come in and out. Although, from looking at the maps, you could also access this area from Portal Creek Rd, but it would be a really long way around.

Welcome and thanks for the information.

Do you know if a lot of bow hunters frequent the Moose Creek area?

 

[Sweeper2000]

Here's an interesting article can anyone say if its correct. Fair bit of contradictory info around.

"The victim, 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem, had plans to meet a friend on Friday for a weekend of camping. But he never made it. A passerby discovered his body inside his tent on Saturday at a campsite near Moose Creek Road."

Gallatin Co. seeks public's help in homicide

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is working around the clock to investigate a homicide after a Belgrade man was found dead at a campsite north of Big Sky ov

nbcmontana.com

"Passerby" does not fit with "associate" seen in other articles.

ETA. This Clears it up. He was found by his group of friends he had planned to meet.

"We received a call of people that had gone to a campsite looking for a friend, and they located him inside the tent, and he was deceased," Sheriff Springer says."

Man found dead camping near Big Sky, authorities investigate as possible homicide

On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2024, a man was found dead in his tent while camping near Big Sky. Now, the Sheriff's Office is investigating a potential homicide.

www.kbzk.com

That article also states that LE are indeed following the same suggestions as us and have asked if "two people" were seen in the area ie the victim and an unknown individual. They have said the scene doesn't make sense with somethings beings there that shouldn't be and some things that may have been there not being there. Think that needs clarification from LE. Hopefully they search his home and see if there is anything missing.

ETA. Yeh dirt roads everywhere near Moose Creek. If the perp drove there they could park anywhere more or less. These roads are all limited in entry and exit points for vehicles though. Fewer options that LE need to check for potential perps.

"There is adequate parking at this trailhead - trailers included. There are no stock or comfort facilities provided. An embankment may be used to unload stock. Stock water is available along 2.5 miles of the trail from trailside streams"

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/bitterroot/recarea/?recid=60372

 

[Cedars]

I believe the idea of a 3rd person was a theory or a hypothesis. There is no evidence shared by LE or MSM that there was another person. Ther is confusion about who called 911 because
A. there is no cell service out there except perhaps a Satellite phone, so who actually called from where at 10:07?
B. LE has said that the friend FOUND him but have not said who called 911. Therefore media have reported "an associate"/the friend/an aquaintence called 911 confusing the matter.

IMO, what likely happened, or would normally happen:

1. One friend waited for Dustin to show up as planned and D. was not responding to calls/texts.

2 Friend waited overnight in case Dustin had an emergency or some SNAFU (or was just blowing them off).

3. Still no word in the morning so friend contacts Dustin's other close friends or family. All agree it is concerning so two people go out to try to find campsite.

JMO

 

[LadyL]

I'm imagining him being in his sleeping bag inside the tent when he was chopped. But it doesn't say. Were there screams, did he fight back? Could be the perp has some wounds, too. Perhaps they should check local hospitals near and around or in Bozeman for someone who came in over the weekend to have "wounds" attended to.

I suspect they've already done that.

 

[RedHaus]

Here's an interesting article can anyone say if its correct. Fair bit of contradictory info around.

"The victim, 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem, had plans to meet a friend on Friday for a weekend of camping. But he never made it. A passerby discovered his body inside his tent on Saturday at a campsite near Moose Creek Road."

Gallatin Co. seeks public's help in homicide

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is working around the clock to investigate a homicide after a Belgrade man was found dead at a campsite north of Big Sky ov

nbcmontana.com

"Passerby" does not fit with "associate" seen in other articles.

ETA. This Clears it up. He was found by his group of friends he had planned to meet.

"We received a call of people that had gone to a campsite looking for a friend, and they located him inside the tent, and he was deceased," Sheriff Springer says."

Man found dead camping near Big Sky, authorities investigate as possible homicide

On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2024, a man was found dead in his tent while camping near Big Sky. Now, the Sheriff's Office is investigating a potential homicide.

www.kbzk.com

That article also states that LE are indeed following the same suggestions as us and have asked if "two people" were seen in the area ie the victim and an unknown individual. They have said the scene doesn't make sense with somethings beings there that shouldn't be and some things that may have been there not being there. Think that needs clarification from LE. Hopefully they search his home and see if there is anything missing.

ETA. Yeh dirt roads everywhere near Moose Creek. If the perp drove there they could park anywhere more or less. These roads are all limited in entry and exit points for vehicles though. Fewer options that LE need to check for potential perps.

"There is adequate parking at this trailhead - trailers included. There are no stock or comfort facilities provided. An embankment may be used to unload stock. Stock water is available along 2.5 miles of the trail from trailside streams"

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/bitterroot/recarea/?recid=60372

Great finds, @Sweeper2000 .

1. This from your 2nd article is fascinating: ""The scene itself is what is leaning towards a homicide. It doesn't make sense some of the items that were at the scene and items that may not be at the scene anymore," Sheriff Springer says."

Perhaps the perp(s) was / were in the tent and left some personal stuff (e.g. women's clothes) behind in their haste to leave the scene. And perhaps there is evidence of a robbery or that perp may have taken a change of clothes and boots (e.g. DK's clothes / boots are missing). Hard to tell meaning.

2. Given the roads and trails in the area it is possible the perp(s) came and/or left on foot or used a vehicle other than a car or truck (e.g. motorcycle, dirt bike, ATV, UTV, silent bicycle).

3. I wonder if what will break this case are wildlife cams set by hunters and trappers along those back roads and trails. Hopefully, LE is all over that!!

All IMO.
ET: fix formatting

 

[Cedars]

Great finds,
1. This ... is fascinating: ""The scene itself is what is leaning towards a homicide. It doesn't make sense some of the items that were at the scene and items that may not be at the scene anymore," Sheriff Springer says."

What jumps to my mind is, a pile of split wood by the campfire, but no ax that would have been used to split it.

JMO

 

[Sweeper2000]

IMO, what likely happened, or would normally happen:

1. One friend waited for Dustin to show up as planned and D. was not responding to CALLS AND TEXTS SEE N1.

2 Friend waited overnight in case Dustin had an emergency or some SNAFU (or was just blowing them off). See N.2.

3. Still no word in the morning so friend contacts Dustin's other close friends or family. All agree it is concerning so two people go out to try to find campsite.

JMO

N.1.

"Kjersem, who worked as a handyman, was last heard from on October 10 when he went to an area with little phone service."

N.2.

"The friend who found him got worried when he didn't show up for a planned camping trip, and had launched a search."

So it was a planned meet that didn't happen, chances are they knew the phone coverage was terrible so had a plan to meet at a certain spot at a certain time.

These are all deets from a DM article I hadn't read. Gives more deets from the LE announcement. Here it is.

Mystery surrounds death of father found hacked to death in his tent

Dustin Mitchell Kjersem, 35, was discovered with chop wounds to his body and skull in the Montana wilderness near Big Sky on Saturday, police said, and a homicide investigation was opened.

www.google.com

 

[Sweeper2000]

Great finds, @Sweeper2000 .

1. This from your 2nd article is fascinating: ""The scene itself is what is leaning towards a homicide. It doesn't make sense some of the items that were at the scene and items that may not be at the scene anymore," Sheriff Springer says."

Perhaps the perp(s) was / were in the tent and left some personal stuff (e.g. women's clothes) behind in their haste to leave the scene. And perhaps there is evidence of a robbery or that perp may have taken a change of clothes and boots (e.g. DK's clothes / boots are missing). Hard to tell meaning.

2. Given the roads and trails in the area it is possible the perp(s) came and/or left on foot or used a vehicle other than a car or truck (e.g. motorcycle, dirt bike, ATV, UTV, silent bicycle).

3. I wonder if what will break this case are wildlife cams set by hunters and trappers along those back roads and trails. Hopefully, LE is all over that!!

All IMO.
ET: fix formatting

Is difficult to interpret isn't it. I think the "may" means its possible that he took some things that were not there upon inspection but they don't know if he took them at all. Maybe his friends gave them some ideas about his normal camping itinerary? But obviously wouldn't know if he did take them on the trip. Its the additions though, they found something that doesn't belong to him so that's a lead. LE have indeed asked for any trail cameras or dashboard cameras even if the owner thinks its "irrelevant" qs it helps build a "bigger picture".

 

[LadyL]

Don't know if it's been clarified but bear attacks are quite obvious. Wounds are tears due to bites and scratching and punctures due to claws. Place would be ripped to shreds as bears are incredibly aggressive in attack. Would also be easy to spot bear tracks. Chopping wounds are easy to distinguish as they gape and are torn apart rather than separated due to cutting/slicing. However if that poor guy had been savaged with an axe ie hit many many times it would be so messy it would be difficult to tell especially if not looking in detail as his friend presumably was and this guy probably had many defensive wounds.

For it to be something personal the perpetrator/s would have to know he was going camping and where he intended to camp. If he was followed from home I bet cameras would have picked up on the car responsible but I doubt that. This to me sounds like a average weekend out in the woods for a fire, some bevvies and maybe a sing song with a pal. The circle of people who would know those details would be quite small as its just an average weekend. Anyone attacking him would have to have a reason for such a significant thing to be done, did this man have enemies? Or involved in unscrupulous circles? If no then its not likely and more likely the killing was opportunistic in nature especially with his gear left behind. May have been a down and out no gooder roaming the woods. Jmo

[bbm]

this. someone who didn't like him using 'their' site maybe?

 

[LadyL]

Really interesting actually.

"Dustin had no known enemies," Price said, adding that the family was searching for answers. "We don't know anything"

Officials: Camper's death was homicide, not bear attack

When Dustin Kjersem was found dead inside his tent at a remote Montana campsite, the victim had injuries so brutal that it was initially reported as a possible bear mauling.

bonnercountydailybee.com

Doesn't leave any known options unfortunately. That article also states he was a tradesman and a father which imo ups the likelihood of him being armed. It does unfortunately state also he was heavily savaged with a implement that did indeed seem like a bear "mauling". Poor guy poor family, heart goes out to em.

I WANT THE PERPETRATOR.

[bbm]

why?

 

[georgiajean]

[bbm]

was this stated by LE?

Yes.

Sheriff Springer says a number of factors in this case pose a challenge for investigators, including the remoteness of the crime scene, limited cell service in the area and the time frame between when the victim was killed and when his body was found. Gallatin Co. seeks public's help in homicide

Additionally, on Campendium's page for the Moose Creek Rd dispersed camping area, people who were camping there in July reported

No cell service at all, from about 15 minutes before hitting the access road until you drive closer to either Big Sky or Bozeman. Saw a bunch of people using Starlink though! Moose Creek Road Dispersed Camping Reviews updated 2024

 

[Sweeper2000]

[bbm]

why?

As a generalisation a highly masculine job, high masculinity environment ie dad will maybe to a degree put emphasis on that angle in life. Is jmo though. I know if I was a dad I'd be carrying. My kids live through me so I need to protect myself to protect them at all times.

 

[LadyL]

Great finds, @Sweeper2000 .

1. This from your 2nd article is fascinating: ""The scene itself is what is leaning towards a homicide. It doesn't make sense some of the items that were at the scene and items that may not be at the scene anymore," Sheriff Springer says."

Perhaps the perp(s) was / were in the tent and left some personal stuff (e.g. women's clothes) behind in their haste to leave the scene. And perhaps there is evidence of a robbery or that perp may have taken a change of clothes and boots (e.g. DK's clothes / boots are missing). Hard to tell meaning.

2. Given the roads and trails in the area it is possible the perp(s) came and/or left on foot or used a vehicle other than a car or truck (e.g. motorcycle, dirt bike, ATV, UTV, silent bicycle).

3. I wonder if what will break this case are wildlife cams set by hunters and trappers along those back roads and trails. Hopefully, LE is all over that!!

All IMO.
ET: fix formatting

yes trail cams would be great! is this government land though? do people go there to hunt? would they be allowed to put their own trail cams on government land?

 

[RedHaus]

yes trail cams would be great! is this government land though? do people go there to hunt? would they be allowed to put their own trail cams on government land?

I presume so since LE has repeatedly asked hunters to check their trail cams in the area... LE is indeed all over this. And OPs have indicated it is active hunting season right now... an OP mentioned bow hunting. May be gun hunting too.

 

[LadyL]

Yes.

Additionally, on Campendium's page for the Moose Creek Rd dispersed camping area, people who were camping there in July reported

thank you I had just found the info and deleted my post as you were posting

 

[georgiajean]

yes trail cams would be great! is this government land though? do people go there to hunt? would they be allowed to put their own trail cams on government land?

The sheriff specifically asked for hunters to check their game cameras, so yes, sounds like it is expected. Especially as hunting season is here. Quote:

• Anyone with trail or game cameras in the Moose Creek area, even if the footage seems irrelevant

Murder at Moose Creek: Gallatin County Sheriff's Office seeks help in homicide investigation

The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office held a press conference on Wednesday regarding its homicide investigation in the death of 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem of Belgrade.

www.kbzk.com