A man initially believed to have been k!lled by a bear in a tent was later determined by police to have been the victim of a ‘v!cious’ mu*der. Dustin Kjersem, 35, had made plans to meet a friend on the afternoon of October 11 but reportedly did not appear as expected.
When Kjersem seemed to have vanished, his friend went looking for him the following day and found him dead at a makeshift campsite.
Upon discovering the body on October 12, the friend called 911, informing emergency responders that Kjersem’s d*ath appeared to be caused by a bear attack, according to The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
However, CBS News reports that a Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks agency expert on bear att*cks inspected the site, located north of Big Sky, Montana, and, as NBC News notes, found no indication of bear activity.
Investigators instead discovered evidence of a ‘v!cious att*ck,’ now being treated as a ‘br*tal’ homicide, stated Sheriff Dan Springer. Kjersem, described by his sister Jillian Price as a ‘caring’ brother, was found dead shortly after 10 a.m. local time.
An official autopsy revealed that the man, who drove a black 2013 Ford F-150, d!ed from ‘multiple chop wounds.’
“We’re pursuing leads, but no arrests have been made at this time,” a spokesperson for the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office in Montana said. “We’re asking community members for assistance.”
Currently, no suspects or m*rder we*pon have been identified. The remote location of Kjersem’s death could complicate the investigation more than usual hom!cide cases.
When questioned about any continued threat to the community, the reporting officer stated at a press conference that they ‘didn’t know.’ “We don’t have enough information to know at this time,” he remarked.
Officials have since advised the public to exercise caution, particularly for those considering wild camping or spending time in the woods, as reported by the Independent.
Captain Nathan Kamerman added, “We know someone was out there who killed someone in a very heinous way, so if you’re in the woods, stay alert and vigilant. Consider the whole canyon.”