Montana Man Found Guilty In Campsite Killing That Was Initially Blamed On A Bear Attack

This murder must have been gruesome if was initially blamed on a bear.

A Montana jury has found a man guilty of a campground murder last year that was initially reported as a bear attack.

Daren Christopher Abbey was found guilty of murder after brutally attacking another man with an axe at campsite near Big Sky, Montana.

The girlfriend of the victim originally told authorities it looked like the victim was attacked by a bear but further investigation revealed no bear was in the region and a homicide investigation began.

CBS News reported more on the jury’s verdict and the horrific murder:

A jury has found a man with links to white supremacists guilty of murder in a brutal killing at a southwestern Montana campsite last year that was initially reported as a possible bear attack.

Daren Christopher Abbey attacked Dustin Kjersem with a block of wood, an axe and a screwdriver after they met at Kjersem’s campsite near Big Sky, Montana, in October 2024, according to prosecutors. An autopsy showed Kjersem sustained “multiple chop wounds,” including to his skull.

The defendant later admitted to taking Kjersem’s guns, cooler, cellphones and other belongings and concealing evidence.

Abbey was linked to the murder scene by DNA found on a beer can inside the tent. He claimed the killing was in self-defense after Kjersem threatened him. Abbey also said he did not report the fight because he had a felony record, but acknowledged he took a cooler of beer and guns from the crime scene and then returned the next day to look for a beanie he believed he might have left there. He told investigators he also took two cellphones and items out of Kjersem’s truck, charging documents said.

Authorities said there were inconsistencies in his story, and pointed to multiple chop wounds in the attack.

The victim’s girlfriend and another friend found his body and reported it as a possible bear attack. It turned into a homicide investigation after wildlife agents found no sign of a bear in the area.

After deliberating for three-and-a-half hours on Monday, Gallatin County jurors found Daren Christopher Abbey guilty of killing of 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem last year near Big Sky. https://t.co/1NdU9b2S9C

— Bozeman Daily Chronicle (@bozchron) November 11, 2025

NBC News reported more on the crime and when sentencing will take place:

Abbey is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 30.

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Springer said after Abbey’s arrest that Abbey had planned to camp at the site, but when he arrived that night he found Kjersem was already there with a wall tent, beds and a stove.

In a confession to detectives, Abbey “stated Dustin welcomed him to the campsite and offered him a beer,” Springer said.

Abbey claimed that the killing was in self-defense, his attorney said. Officials have said there were “multiple chop wounds” to Kjersem’s body.

Defense attorney Sarah Kottke said Wednesday that they were disappointed in the verdict but respected the jury’s decision and time.

“We asserted self defense in this matter, arguing that Daren was scared for his life when a gun was pointed at him by the decedent. If the jury would have believed there was self defense they would have acquitted,” Kottke said in an email.

A decision on whether to appeal will be made after sentencing, she said.

Abbey faces up to life in prison on the homicide conviction, Kottke said. He was also convicted of two counts of tampering with evidence, which carry up to 10 years each, she said.