BIG SKY, MONTANA — A man has been convicted of deliberate homicide for the savage killing of a 35-year-old father at a remote Montana campsite, a case so disturbing that investigators initially believed the victim had been mauled by a wild animal.
Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, was found guilty in Gallatin County District Court for the murder of Dustin Kjersem, a father from Belgrade, Montana. The two men met by chance in early October 2024 while camping in the Moose Creek area near Big Sky.
Victim Attacked Inside Tent
Investigators say Abbey was invited into Kjersem’s well-equipped wall tent, where the two shared a drink. Sometime during the night of October 10, 2024, Abbey launched a sudden and violent assault. Authorities said he struck Kjersem with a piece of firewood, followed by an axe, and then stabbed him with a screwdriver.
When Kjersem failed to check in for a planned pickup, his girlfriend and a friend arrived at the campsite on October 12. They found his lifeless body inside the tent with extensive wounds to the head and body. Due to the severity of the injuries, initial reports treated the death as a possible bear mauling.
DNA Evidence and Confession
The turning point in the investigation came when DNA from a beer can found inside the tent matched Abbey. He was arrested shortly after and confessed to the killing. Prosecutors confirmed that Abbey and Kjersem had only met briefly and had no prior relationship.
During the trial, Abbey’s defense claimed he acted in self-defense, arguing that Kjersem had held him at gunpoint. However, jurors rejected this claim and returned a guilty verdict for deliberate homicide and two counts of tampering with evidence.
According to the prosecution, Abbey attempted to clean up the crime scene and remove several items, including a cooler, firearms, and camping gear. The evidence tampering charges were based on the disappearance of a shotgun, a revolver, and other personal items that Abbey allegedly took after the attack.
Sentencing Set for December
Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell welcomed the verdict and praised the jury’s decision.
“This verdict reflects our community’s expectation that violent acts resulting in the loss of life will be met with accountability,” Cromwell stated.
Abbey now faces life in prison for the homicide charge, with an additional ten years for each tampering conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for December 30, 2025.
For more cases related to brutal outdoor crimes, check out our video here:
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