Man confesses to killing of Montana camper who was initially reported as victim of bear attack, authorities say

By Rebekah Riess and Cindy Von Quednow, CNN

(CNN) — A man has confessed to killing a Montana camper who was initially reported to be the victim of a bear attack, authorities said Thursday.

Dustin Kjersem’s bloodied body had been found October 12 in a tent about two-and-a-half miles up Moose Creek Road, east of Big Sky, after a friend who went looking for him called 911, telling the dispatcher that Kjersem appeared to have been attacked by a bear, CNN previously reported. Authorities said Thursday that it was Kjersem’s girlfriend, who was concerned after he did not show to pick her up, who found him dead.

After the 911 call, investigators from several agencies, including a bear expert from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, examined the site but did not find any signs of bear activity.

An autopsy determined the 35-year-old had suffered “multiple chop wounds,” according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators initially said they did not know what weapon was used, “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.”

The sheriff’s office later noted that several items, including a camp axe, a shotgun, a revolver, and a cooler had gone missing from the scene of the crime.

“He was brutally killed at his campsite,” Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said.

After a nearly three-week search, the sheriff’s office says it has identified a suspect, who is in custody “on unrelated charges.”

During their investigation, authorities collected DNA from a beer can left inside the victim’s tent. Ultimately, they got a match and were able to arrest 41-year-old Daren Christopher Abbey, who confessed to killing Kjersem, Springer said.

CNN is working to determine whether Abbey has an attorney.

Abbey told investigators that he was in the area looking for a place to camp and had set his sights on where Kjersem was staying when he found the victim there, Springer said. The victim welcomed him into his elaborate campsite, and even offered Abbey a beer before the deadly encounter, according to Springer.

At some point, Abbey struck the victim with a piece of solid wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver and hit him with the axe, according to Springer. Abbey then allegedly removed items from the campsite he believed may have had evidence connecting him to the crime, and also later returned to the scene to remove other things, Springer said.

The motive behind the attack remains unknown, but authorities believe Abbey acted alone, and that the two men did not know each other.

“Investigators will continue to piece together everything they can to build a better picture of the events that evening,” Springer said. “This appears to be a heinous crime committed by an individual who had no regard for the life of Dustin Kjersem.”

“Our thoughts and prayers continue for the family of Dustin Kjersem. We hope, by some small measure, our efforts can bring them a bit of peace during this horrific time. Our entire community mourns with you,” Springer said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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