Murder Victim's Death So 'Vicious' It Was First Reported As A Bear Attack

The death of 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem , initially reported as a bear attack, is now being investigated as a homicide by the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office in Montana. Kjersem was found dead in his tent on October 12 in a remote camping area approximately 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road. An autopsy revealed that Kjersem had suffered "multiple chop wounds," including to his skull, leading investigators to treat the case as a homicide.

Kjersem, a resident of Belgrade, Montana, was last seen on October 10, leaving to go camping for the weekend. When he failed to show up at a planned meet-up spot on Friday, a friend went searching for him and discovered his body the following morning. The initial 911 call suggested a bear attack as the cause of death . However, a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks agent found no signs of bear activity at the scene, prompting a shift in the investigation.

During a press conference on Wednesday (October 16), Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer described the incident as a "vicious attack" and appealed to the public for help in solving the case. He warned that there is a person who "killed someone in a very heinous way" still at large. Kjersem's sister, Jillian Price, also spoke at the press conference, describing her brother as a "loving, helpful, and adoring father" and urging the community to help find his killer.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have seen something between October 10 and October 12 to come forward. They are particularly interested in any sightings of Kjersem's black 2013 Ford F-150 with a black topper and a silver aluminum ladder rack. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 406-582-2121 or via email at detectives@gallatin.mt.gov.