Montana authorities 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 a friend on Friday afternoon, but when he didn’t 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 Parks, Wildlife and Fisheries officials, who specialize in bear attacks, responded to the scene but found no evidence of bear activity. This led investigators to turn their attention 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 the murder weapon, but believe it is “hard enough to cause significant damage to the skull and some areas of the body,” Sheriff Springer said during a news conference Wednesday.
“This incident was a vicious attack and detectives are working hard to develop and follow up leads. “No suspects have been arrested at this time,” the sheriff’s department stated, according to Explore the big sky.
So far, investigators have not established a clear timeline for the murder and have not identified any potential suspects. The Kjersem camp was described as “well-kept” and the remote nature of the area has posed challenges for investigators, particularly due to limited cell service.
Sheriff Springer urged the public to remain alert while in the area, stating, “If you are in the woods, I need you to pay attention, you need to stay alert. Please call us.”
Since news of the homicide broke, several people have contacted authorities with possible leads and investigators are diligently following up on each of them, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a statement posted on FacebookThe Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office asked the public for help. “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, If you notice suspicious activity, have in-game or vehicle camera footage of the area, or see anything out of place, please come forward. Even the smallest detail could be crucial to the investigation.”
Authorities continue to investigate the case and urge anyone with information to come forward, as even minor details could be instrumental in solving the crime.
