Beer a camper offered to a suspect before his murder led to an arrest, sheriff says

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) – A 41-year-old Montana man was charged with murder Friday in a brutal killing at a remote campground that was initially reported as a possible bear mauling by people who found the victim’s body.

The suspect allegedly told authorities that he arrived at a campground northeast of Big Sky, Montana, on Oct. 10 with the intention of spending the night, but found it occupied by 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem.

According to Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer, Kjersem, who did not know the suspect, welcomed him to the campsite and offered him a beer.

Dustin Kjersem, 35, was found dead on October 12 in his tent at a campsite in Montana. Authorities... — Dustin Kjersem, 35, was found dead on October 12 in his tent at a campsite in Montana. Authorities say he was “brutally attacked.”(Source: Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office)

However, some time later, for unknown motives, the suspect hit Kjersem with a piece of wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver and hit him with an axe, Springer said.

The victim’s girlfriend and another friend found his body on Oct. 12 and reported it as a possible bear attack. The case turned into a homicide investigation when wildlife agents found no signs of the bear in the area.

After DNA found on a camping beer can was matched to the suspect’s DNA, he was tracked down and arrested this week in Butte, Montana, Springer said.

Sheriff’s records show he was being held on $1.5 million bail.