A Montana father was found brutally slain in his tent, initially leading friends to believe he had been mauled by a bear. However, law enforcement officials have ruled out an animal attack and are treating the incident as a homicide. The victim, identified as 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem, was discovered by friends on Saturday morning at a makeshift campsite in Big Sky, an hour southwest of Bozeman, Montana. Kjersem had failed to show up for a planned meeting on Friday and had not been seen since Thursday afternoon.
Upon discovering Kjersem’s body, his friends immediately alerted the police, initially suspecting a bear attack due to the severity of his injuries. Responding to the scene were members of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Big Sky Fire Department, Montana Highway Patrol, and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
An agent from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, with expertise in bear attacks, found no evidence of bear activity at the scene. This led investigators to treat the case as a homicide. Further evidence supporting this theory was gathered through an autopsy, which indicated that Kjersem had been the victim of a vicious attack.
The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has stated that detectives are working diligently to develop leads and track down potential suspects. However, no arrests have been made at this time. Sheriff Dan Springer has urged the community to remain vigilant, as the perpetrator remains at large.
The investigation has been complicated by the lack of cellphone service in the area where the crime occurred. Kjersem’s sister, Jillian Price, has appealed to the community for help in finding her brother’s killer, describing him as a loving and helpful father who did not deserve such a fate.
Kjersem was last seen driving a black 2013 Ford F-150 pickup truck with a black topper and a silver aluminum ladder rack. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information on the case or anyone who was in the Moose Creek area around the time of Kjersem’s death to contact them.