On October 12, 2024, the body of 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem was found at his campsite along Moose Creek Road in the wilderness north of Big Sky in Gallatin County, Montana by his girlfriend and another friend. His death was initially thought to be the result of a bear attack; investigators began a homicide investigation after an FWP specialist ruled out bear activity.
According to Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer, a DNA sample taken from a beer can at the campsite returned a match with 41-year-old Daren Christopher Abbey.
On October 26, Abbey was located in Butte and taken into custody on a probation violation.
A Gallatin County sheriff’s deputy, along with an agent with the Division of Criminal Investigation, reportedly interviewed Abbey. He confessed to killing Kjersem on October 10, claiming self-defense.
Abbey allegedly said he hit Kjersem on the head with a piece of firewood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and hit him on the face with the blunt side of an axe.
Abbey allegedly admitted to taking multiple items that had his fingerprints on them, including two coolers, a .44 magnum pistol and holster, a shotgun, and a shotgun ammunition sleeve. He reportedly admitted to washing the axe and screwdriver in the creek.
Abbey allegedly said he returned to the campsite the next day because he forgot his hat.
According to charging documents, he said he also stole binoculars and a headlamp from Kjersem’s truck, as well as disposing of two phones he took from Kjersem’s tent. The phones were reportedly found on October 17.
Allegedly, Abbey admitted to washing the clothes he was wearing at the time and burning the shoes he was wearing in a wood stove.
Abbey was formally charged with one count of deliberate homicide and two counts of tampering with or fabricating evidence. He was held at the Butte Detention Center until his transfer to Gallatin County. His bail was set at $1.5 million.
His next hearing is scheduled for November 15, 2024.
