Police Use Beer Can Evidence to Track Down Suspect in Camping Murder Case

A beer can discovered at a murder scene played a crucial role in identifying the man accused of brutally killing a Montana father and avid outdoorsman in his camping tent, according to police reports.

Detectives from Gallatin County identified Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, as the prime suspect based on a DNA sample collected from the beer can found inside the tent where Dustin Kjersem, 35, was discovered dead. The evidence was analyzed at the Montana State Crime Lab.

The incident occurred during a “chance encounter” while both men were camping near Big Sky, Montana, in October. Abbey was apprehended in Butte, Montana, on an unrelated probation violation and is expected to be transferred to Gallatin County to face charges of deliberate homicide and two counts of tampering with evidence.

“This appears to be a heinous crime committed by an individual who had no regard for the life of Dustin Kjersem,” Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer stated during a press conference.

During an interview with detectives, Abbey confessed to the murder on Tuesday. His criminal profile, according to the Montana Department of Correction website, reveals that he is heavily tattooed, including markings associated with Germany’s Nazi Party.

Springer noted that Abbey attempted to remove evidence from the crime scene, including a cooler, firearms, and an axe, in a misguided effort to cover his tracks. “This is the behavior of a guilty subject who thought they could get away with murder,” he added.

Kjersem had set up camp in the Moose Creek area on Thursday, October 10, complete with a wall tent, wood stove, beds, lamps, and other amenities. Abbey had approached the campsite and was welcomed by Kjersem, who offered him a beer. At some point during the evening, Abbey allegedly attacked Kjersem with a piece of wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and ultimately killed him with the axe.

Kjersem was scheduled to pick up his girlfriend on Friday evening, October 11, to spend the weekend together, but when he failed to arrive as planned, she grew concerned. On Saturday morning, October 12, she and a friend drove to the campsite and discovered Kjersem deceased in the tent.

Initial reports suggested that Kjersem may have fallen victim to a bear attack, but authorities later determined the case to be a homicide. “By all accounts, this homicide appears to be a chance encounter,” Sheriff Springer remarked, adding that there seemed to be no prior connection between the victim and Abbey.

Abbey had been living in Basin, Montana, and working in the Big Sky area, leading a somewhat transient lifestyle in the construction business.

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In a message to Kjersem’s family and friends, Springer expressed condolences: “You are all in our thoughts and prayers. No one deserves to have this happen to them. I hope this can bring a little bit of peace to all of you, and I’m sorry you’re having to go through this.”

Kjersem’s sister, Jillian Price, previously shared with Fox News Digital that Kjersem had a daughter and a stepson. When reflecting on her brother, she stated, “I wish they could have heard his laugh, but I just hope they know just how caring he was.”

Sheriff Springer also issued a warning to criminals: “The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and its partners will not stand for this type of behavior. You will not get away with it in our community. If you have some need to commit these types of crimes, let it be known, we will hunt you down, and we will make sure that you never see the light of day again.”

Despite the arrest, Springer noted that further investigation is necessary, as the motives behind this tragic attack remain unclear. Investigators will continue to piece together the events of that evening to build a clearer understanding of what transpired.

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