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

[fred&edna]

I wonder if Bozeman PD will possibly find a link between Abbey and Steve Killwein? Re open that case again.

Abbey doesn't seem to be the sharpest crayon in the box.

Neo-Nazi skinhead taken down with one punch

Neo-Nazi skinhead taken down with one punch

www.krem.com

Do you know if there's a WS thread for Killwein?

 

[RedHaus]

Do you know if there's a WS thread for Killwein?

Thread 'MT- Steve Joseph Kilwein, 79, home builder & artist, body found with multiple chop-type wounds, @ home, Bozeman, 13 June 2021, *New initiative*' MT - MT- Steve Joseph Kilwein, 79, home builder & artist, body found with multiple chop-type wounds, @ home, Bozeman, 13 June 2021, *New initiative*

 

[155etta]

His picture is in this news article -
they found him by the DNA he left on a beer can in the tent..
Suspect is Daren Abbey
He confessed too.

Gallatin County Sheriff: Moose Creek murder suspect confessed to killing Dustin Kjersem near Big Sky

Daren Christopher Abbey was named as the suspect in the homicide of Dustin Kjersem, who was found brutally killed in his tent in the Moose Creek area on Oct. 12, 2024.

www.kbzk.com

Wow. He looks like Brian Laundrie to me.

 

[Data Sleuth]

Lots (and lots) more on his history here following the 2012 incident.

More racist incidents (including in jail and even assault against jail staff) and the sentencing and his drug history, etc.

Racist Skinhead Flattened by Man He Attacked Goes to Prison

An Idaho judge today sentenced a racist skinhead to up to five years in prison for maliciously harassing a black man who, it turned out, was a former boxer who defended himself last summer with a one-punch knockout. Daren C. Abbey, who has been free on bond, appeared surprised as he was led from...

www.splcenter.org

Sounds like Abbey entered re-hab and it didn’t work. Sad that the system failed.

 

[orchidaceaes]

This brutal murder being a random attack makes it even more terrifying. The killer being someone he knew is easier to comprehend. This is just true evil.
Dustin invited his killer into his tent for a beer. He was just trying to be friendly. That really makes me sad.

 

[Betty P]

Sounds like Abbey entered re-hab and it didn’t work. Sad that the system failed.

He’s a violent, racist skinhead addict. That’s not the system’s fault, it’s his. He probably thinks he’s right and everyone else is wrong.

Guys like him usually take a long time to learn to accept responsibility. He will fail rehab many times until he figures it out. Now an innocent young dad is dead for no good reason. This cracker gets to spend the rest of his life in prison with the other racist skinheads.

 

[Knox]

I'm really surprised they've got someone for this one, I had an awful feeling it wouldn't be solved.

I had the opposite feeling, felt this was solvable right off the bat. GCSO inspired my confidence with the way this case was handled from the beginning. They turned to the public and asked for help right away, not many agencies do that these days.

Sheriff Springer was open and honest, shared details without compromising the investigation. Warned the public to be vigilant, because they could not say for certain the public was not in danger. As soon as a POI was in custody, he announced the public was now safe to enjoy the outdoors again. No PIO, he spoke to the public directly.

 

[airportwoman]

And he's apparently an identical twin...

Man Who Punched White Supremacist Speaks In Court

An Idaho man, described as a white supremacist, appeared court Tuesday to face harassment charges.

www.kxly.com

Fingerprints are not identical!

I heard earlier today that there was an arrest.

 

[Knox]

Abbey Painting and Construction, LLC - Independent Contractor
He actually held a legit Montana SOS filing, but it was terminated in June this year.

Felony arrests in: Kootenai County, Idaho - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Coconino County, Arizona - Reno, Nevada & the Montana cases.

Was he on drugs? I assume he was in his own vehicle and didn't take Dustin's truck at some point? Somewhat unusual for a violent career criminal to confess, I hope the PCA offers some insight into motive.

I'm so sad for Dustin's family and friends, he welcomed this stranger into his campsite never suspecting he would be violently attacked. A lesson to us all, sadly. Never let your guard down around strangers.

 

[Snoopster]

Daren Abbey is now showing up on the Gallatin County inmate roster.
https://gallatin-so-mt.zuercherportal.com/#/inmates

ETA: tidying up a double post of image.

 

[Knox]

Daren Abbey is now showing up on the Gallatin County inmate roster.
https://gallatin-so-mt.zuercherportal.com/#/inmates
View attachment 542239View attachment 542240

Nothing showing up in the court records yet. Only one criminal case hearing tomorrow at 9:30 AM, but no details. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

FullCourt Enterprise - Login

dcportal.pubcourts.mt.gov

 

[Deleted member 296739]

DBM

 

[kaen]

The confessed murderer is mentioned and pictured in this article.

"The first came one night last July, when Marlon L. Baker walked into a Bayview, Idaho, bar only to find himself almost immediately confronted by neo-Nazi skinhead Daren Christopher Abbey.

Abbey told Baker he had better leave because of the color of his skin. Baker left the bar, only to be followed by Abbey, who continued taunting and harassing him. Fearing for his safety, Baker felled the skinhead with a single punch to the face, knocking him to the ground. When Abbey regained consciousness, he was arrested and booked into jail on charges of battery, a misdemeanor, and felony malicious harassment." When Targets of Hate Violence Strike Back

 

[CuriousCricket]

This brutal murder being a random attack makes it even more terrifying. The killer being someone he knew is easier to comprehend. This is just true evil.
Dustin invited his killer into his tent for a beer. He was just trying to be friendly. That really makes me sad.

It is terrifying that someone so volatile was out and about -- and in so many locations. Which may be why he remained out so long. I'm so sorry a good man was killed before Abbey was taken out of circulation.

 

[mickey2942]

I am thinking that they told him he would be getting the DP, and be on death row if he didn't confess.

The fact that Montana hasn't killed anyone in years is irrelevant. Or that they have a hold on it due to some policy about the drug cocktail. The Abbey probably didn't know that.

I have no doubt, even in Gallatin County, that if he had been found guilty during a trial, due to the heinous nature of the crime, and sheer senselessness, he would have been given the DP.

I really wonder if there are any other unsolved crimes, in Idaho, or Washington that should be reviewed. This was crazy.

 

[Knox]

It is terrifying that someone so volatile was out and about -- and in so many locations. Which may be why he remained out so long. I'm so sorry a good man was killed before Abbey was taken out of circulation.

Well he won’t see freedom again in this lifetime, that’s something to be grateful for. But yes, it’s horrible that someone who has been a lifelong violent, felony offender, was repeatedly released. How many times do we see this over and over.

 

[Lucy6226]

So pleased they have caught the perp so quickly, he sounds like an extremely violent, unpredictable, dangerous man.

It's so sad to learn that Dustin had been welcoming to him and was simply in the 'wrong place at the wrong time'

 

[LadyL]

Your article also answered my questions and for everyone else.

"Sheriff Springer said the homicide appears to be a chance encounter with no prior connection between Abbey and Kjersem."

"Abbey reportedly said in his confession that he had planned to camp on Thursday, Oct. 10 at the site where he encountered Dustin, already set up."

According to Sheriff Springer, "Abbey said in his confession that Dustin welcomed him to the campsite and offered him a beer."

“At some point, this individual struck Dustin Kjersem with a piece of solid wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and ultimately hit him with the axe,” Springer said.

Just wow

I said earlier on it might be someone who wanted that camping site
this guy's not too bright - he made a trip back to collect belongings with his DNA and he still left a beer can there
so I wonder what kind of vehicle he had?

 

[LadyL]

They arrested him very quickly. Dustin's body was found on the 12th. Fourteen days later, they arrested him after testing DNA on a beer can. Of course, his DNA was probably in the system because of his conviction in the 2012 case mentioned above.

And he killed Dustin because he had planned to camp in the site where Dustin was set up. I think someone posted earlier wondering if this was what happened...

Gallatin County Sheriff: Moose Creek murder suspect confessed to killing Dustin Kjersem near Big Sky

Daren Christopher Abbey was named as the suspect in the homicide of Dustin Kjersem, who was found brutally killed in his tent in the Moose Creek area on Oct. 12, 2024.

www.kbzk.com

that was me! there may have been others too

 

[LadyL]

Wow. He looks like Brian Laundrie to me.

I thought the same
also looks like my husband's cousin's husband lol say that three times fast