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

[Niner]

Tuesday, February 25h:
*Omnibus Hearing (@ 1:30pm MT) - MT - *Dustin Mitchell Kjersem (36) was last seen on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 & was found dead in his tent on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 along Moose Creek Road north of Big Sky, MT. - *Daren Christopher Abbey (41) arrested 10/24/24 (unrelated charges [parole violation]), charged (11/1/24) & arraigned (11/26/24) with deliberate homicide & 2 counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Originally bond denied. Bond set at $1.5M (11/1/24). Plead not guilty (11/26/24) Gallatin County
Speedy trial set to begin on 6/18/25.
Judge Peter B. Ohman presiding. DA C. Aarab. Defense attorney Sarah Kottke.
Case & Court info from 10/25/24 thru 11/22/24 reference post #536 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...heriff-says-murder-oct-12-2024.726290/page-22
11/25/24 Update: OPD's Notice of reassignment. Abbey pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His bail continues at $1,500,000. The next omnibus hearing is set for 2/18/25 @ 1:30pm.
2/18/25 Update: Omnibus hearing was vacated & reset on 2/25/25 @ 1:30pm.

 

[Niner]

@georgiajean - any updates on next court hearing date yet? TIA!

 

[Niner]

Bumping up for @georgiajean or anyone who has access to the Gallatin County #DC-16-2024-0000847-IN for his next hearing date?

TIA!

 

[Rosydecember]

Omnibus Hearing Memorandum and Order was on 02/25/25

NEXT APPEARANCE10/21/2025 01:30 PM-Conference - Final Pre-Trial

11/03/2025 - 09:00 AM

PARTICIPANTS OFFICERS

 

[Rosydecember]

11/03/2025 - 09:00 AM - jury trial

That didn’t copy over correctly

 

[Niner]

11/03/2025 - 09:00 AM - jury trial

That didn’t copy over correctly

Thanks a bunch! I guess nothing until October....

Maybe I'll check in next month - and see if there is something before than!

edited to add - I see his "speedy trial" was continued.... from 6/18/25.

 

[mickey2942]

Trial date, November 3, 2025.

Trial date set for Big Sky homicide case involving Daren Abbey

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The trial for Daren Abbey, connected to the homicide case of Dustin Kjersem, is set to begin on November 3 at the Gallatin County Justice Center. This

www.kulr8.com

 

[georgiajean]

Trial is set to run from Nov 3-14. Opening arguments begin at 9 am Nov 3. Article indicates lots of evidence is still coming in from analysis, which may expand the witnesses called.

Trial date set for Big Sky homicide case involving Daren Abbey

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The trial for Daren Abbey, connected to the homicide case of Dustin Kjersem, is set to begin on November 3 at the Gallatin County Justice Center. This

www.kulr8.com

Final Pre-Trial conference set for Oct 21, 2025 at 1:30 pm. Screenshot from FullCourt Enterprise - Login

 

[Kittypoo]

Trial is set to run from Nov 3-14. Opening arguments begin at 9 am Nov 3. Article indicates lots of evidence is still coming in from analysis, which may expand the witnesses called.

Trial date set for Big Sky homicide case involving Daren Abbey

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The trial for Daren Abbey, connected to the homicide case of Dustin Kjersem, is set to begin on November 3 at the Gallatin County Justice Center. This

www.kulr8.com

Final Pre-Trial conference set for Oct 21, 2025 at 1:30 pm. Screenshot from FullCourt Enterprise - Login

View attachment 579867

Was there ever any possible motive mentioned? I have dipped in and out of this one.

 

[mickey2942]

Was there ever any possible motive mentioned? I have dipped in and out of this one.

Yes, the killer is claiming "self defense". He had no wounds, and Dustin kjersem was "overkilled" to the point people at the scene thought it was some sort of wild animal attack.

 

[Niner]

@georgiajean - just wondering if he has a hearing date before the 10/21? TIA!

 

[georgiajean]

@georgiajean - just wondering if he has a hearing date before the 10/21? TIA! View attachment 583193

No hearing dates. I'll keep checking periodically. Interesting to note that his speedy trial date would have been June 15. I guess he waived that.

 

[Sor Juana]

At a recent omnibus hearing, 18th Judicial District Court Judge Peter Ohman scheduled Darren Abbey's trial from November 3 to November 14.

 

[Niner]

@georgiajean or @Rosydecember - any updates on the docket - maybe a hearing before the 10/21 ?

TIA!

 

[Rosydecember]

@georgiajean or @Rosydecember - any updates on the docket - maybe a hearing before the 10/21 ?

TIA! View attachment 590793

No other updates - still October 21st

 

[Niner]

No other updates - still October 21st

Thanks for checking!

 

[mickey2942]

Gallatin County transfers two high profile homicide cases to state prosecutors

Gallatin County transfers two homicide cases to the Department of Justice due to staffing and complexity of the prosecutions.

www.kbzk.com

This is hardly a surprise. Larger, more complex cases that are high profile are better managed by State Attorney office. Bozeman, MT has literally had a population explosion in the last few years. The local prosecution is overwhelmed with cases.

 

[mickey2942]

Defense attorneys: Man accused of campsite killing of former Belgrade man won't get fair trial in Gallatin

A 42-year-old Basin man accused of murdering 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem, of Belgrade, is seeking a change of venue.

www.belgrade-news.com

Seriously. Where would this self proclaimed "Neo Nazi", who apparently killed a man who gave him a beer, get a fair trial? Dustin Kjersem was "overkilled" to the point it seemed like a wild animal attack, rather than being killed by a human.

Helena? Billings? Missoula? Glasgow? This was huge news in Montana based on the brutality of the killing, and the fact that the victim, Dustin Kjersem, was a local man, well liked by people in the community.

I don't see that a change of venue is going to make much difference here.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, October 21st:
*Final Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ 1:30pm MT) - MT - *Dustin Mitchell Kjersem (36) was last seen on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 & was found dead in his tent on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 along Moose Creek Road north of Big Sky, MT. - *Daren Christopher Abbey (41) arrested 10/24/24 (unrelated charges [parole violation]), charged (11/1/24) & arraigned (11/26/24) with deliberate homicide & 2 counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Originally bond denied. Bond set at $1.5M (11/1/24). Plead not guilty (11/26/24) Gallatin County
Speedy trial was to begin on 6/18/25 continued on 11/3/25 [thru 11/14/25]
18th Judicial District Court Judge Peter B. Ohman presiding. DA C. Aarab. Defense attorney Sarah Kottke.
Case & Court info from 10/25/24 thru 11/25/24 reference post #541 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...heriff-says-murder-oct-12-2024.726290/page-28
2/18/25 Update: Omnibus hearing was vacated & reset on 2/25/25 @ 1:30pm. 2/25/25 Update: Motion for trial continuance-granted. Next final pretrial conference hearing on 10/21/25 @ 1:30pm. Trial will now begin on 11/3/25 @ 9am thru 11/14/25.
8/12/25 Update: On Tuesday, August 12, The Gallatin County Commission approved County Attorney Audrey Cromwell’s request to hand over two deliberate homicide cases to the Department of Justice. The cases include Chris Foiles, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Megan Stedman, in 2023 in the Bozeman Walmart parking lot. And, Daren Abbey, who is charged with the brutal murder of Dustin Kjersem at a campsite near Big Sky in 2024. The Attorney General's Office confirmed to MTN that having the Prosecution Services Bureau assist with these types of cases is "relatively standard" but that they can only do so when the county attorney's office asks for their help directly.