A Montana man was convicted Monday in a 2024 killing at a campsite that that was initially reported as a possible bear attack.
Daren Christopher Abbey was convicted by a Gallatin County jury of deliberate homicide in the killing of Dustin Kjersem in a remote campsite off Moose Creek Road near Big Sky.
Kjersem was camping there when he met Abbey, a stranger, in a chance encounter, welcomed him to the site and shared his beer with him on the night of Oct. 10, 2024, law enforcement said at the time.
Abbey then struck Kjersem with a block of wood and an ax and stabbed him with a screwdriver, prosecutors said.
Kjersem’s body was found in his tent two days later by his girlfriend, who had planned to meet him, officials said.
At first, it was reported as a possible bear attack. But no evidence of a bear attack was found, and Abbey was later identified as a suspect and confessed after being arrested, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said at the time.
DNA on a beer can found inside the tent led investigators to Abbey, the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office said.
"This verdict reflects our community’s expectation that violent acts resulting in the loss of life will be met with accountability, Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell said in a statement.
Abbey is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 30.
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.
