Montana Man’s Death in Suspected Bear Attack May Actually Be a Gruesome Campsite Murder

Authorities in Montana are investigating the death of 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem, which was initially thought to be the result of a bear attack but is now being treated as a homicide. Kjersem was found dead in his tent near Moose Creek Road, a remote area of Gallatin County, according to Sheriff Dan Springer.

Kjersem had planned to meet with a friend on Friday afternoon, but when he failed to show up, his friend went looking for him. Tragically, the friend discovered Kjersem’s body. The last time anyone heard from Kjersem was on October 10.

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials, who specialize in bear attacks, responded to the scene but found no evidence of bear activity. This led investigators to shift their focus to a homicide investigation, according to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

An autopsy revealed that Kjersem died from multiple injuries, including severe blows to the head. Authorities have not yet identified a murder weapon but believe it to be “hard enough to cause significant damage to the skull as well as some flesh areas of the body,” Sheriff Springer said during a press conference on Wednesday.

“This incident was a vicious attack, and detectives are working hard to develop and track down leads. A suspect has not been arrested at this time,” the sheriff’s department stated, according to Explore Big Sky.

As of now, investigators have not established a clear timeline for the murder and have not identified any potential suspects. Kjersem’s campsite was described as “well-kept,” and the remote nature of the area has posed challenges for investigators, particularly due to the limited cell service.

Sheriff Springer urged the public to stay vigilant while in the area, stating, “If you are out in the woods, I need you to be paying attention, you need to remain vigilant. Please, just call us.”

Since news of the homicide broke, several individuals have contacted authorities with potential leads, and investigators are diligently following up on each one, according to the sheriff’s office.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office appealed to the public for assistance. “If you were in the Moose Creek area, or anywhere in Gallatin Canyon, between Thursday afternoon and early Saturday morning and noticed anything unusual—whether you saw Dustin, Dustin’s truck, noticed suspicious activity, have footage from game cameras or in-vehicle cameras from the area, or observed something out of place—please come forward. Even the smallest detail could be crucial to the investigation.”

Authorities continue to investigate the case, urging anyone with information to come forward, as even minor details could prove pivotal in solving the crime.