‘Bear attack’ story unravels as Montana man found guilty of grisly campsite murder: officials

A Montana antheral with links to White supremacists has been recovered blameworthy of murdering a antheral astatine a Montana campsite successful a brutal sidesplitting that was initially reported arsenic a carnivore attack. 

A assemblage recovered Daren Christopher Abbey blameworthy of fatally attacking Dustin Kjersem with an axe, a artifact of wood and a screwdriver aft the brace met astatine Kjersem’s campsite successful adjacent Big Sky, Montana, successful October 2024, according to The Associated Press. 

Investigators yet linked Abbey to the transgression country aft his DNA was recovered connected a brew tin wrong the man’s tent, with Abbey initially claiming the sidesplitting was done successful self-defense aft Kjersem allegedly attacked him. 

BEER CAN USED TO TRACK SUSPECT IN DAD’S CAMPING TRIP MURDER: POLICE

Daren Christopher Abbey appears successful District Court Nov. 26, 2024, successful Bozeman, Montana. (Laurenz Busch/Bozeman Daily Chronicle via AP, File)

However, authorities pointed retired galore inconsistencies successful Abbey’s story, portion pointing to the aggregate chop wounds sustained by Kjersem successful the attack.

Kjersem’s woman and a person aboriginal discovered Kjersem’s assemblage and initially reported it to authorities arsenic a imaginable carnivore attack, but authorities aboriginal ruled retired their mentation aft wildlife agents recovered nary signs of an carnal successful the area. 

Abbey aboriginal admitted to stealing Kjersem’s cooler, guns and cellphones, portion besides concealing grounds aft the murder. 

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Daren Christopher Abbey has been convicted of the execution of Montana dada Dustin Kjersem. (Montana Department of Corrections)

The six-day proceedings ended successful Abbey being convicted of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence, with the suspect choosing not to instrumentality the basal successful his defense. While the charges represent a superior discourtesy wrong Montana, prosecutors volition not question the decease punishment successful the case, Jack Veil with the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office told the AP.

Abbey’s defence attorney, Sarah Kottke, said her lawsuit volition take whether to entreaty the condemnation erstwhile helium is sentenced connected Dec. 30.

SUSPECT IN CAMPING TRIP MURDER IDENTIFIED AFTER DAD FOUND BUTCHERED IN TENT

Dustin Kjersem was recovered dormant successful his structure portion camping successful Montana. Police described it arsenic a "vicious attack." (Gallatin County Sheriff's Office)

"This was a pugnacious lawsuit and asserting an affirmative defence comes with aggregate hurdles, particularly erstwhile it happens successful specified a distant country with nary witnesses to the events that took place," Kottke reportedly said. 

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Abbey was antecedently tied to a achromatic supremacist organization, according to an inmate accusation papers from Gallatin County. Additionally, State Department of Corrections records revealed Abbey had tattoos of a swastika and an robust cross, according to the AP. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.