By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a suspected homicide near Moose Creek in the Gallatin Canyon.
On Saturday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m., the Sheriff’s office responded to a call from an individual who discovered a deceased man in a camping tent about two-and-a-half miles up Moose Creek Road, near the intersection with Tamphery Creek Road. The caller believed it was a bear attack, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks joined the response, in addition to Big Sky Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service and Montana Highway Patrol.
“There was a lot of injuries there,” Sheriff Dan Springer told EBS in a phone call. “The Fish, Wildlife and Parks person informed us that it was not consistent with a bear attack… We are treating it as homicide as of right now.”
The victim was identified in an Oct. 15 press release as Dustin Mitchell Kjersem, 35, of Belgrade. The incident is under investigation, with an autopsy in progress as of Oct. 15. Kjersem was believed to be camping alone when he was attacked. Moose Creek Road is temporarily closed to the public as the investigation continues, according to a Facebook post from Custer Gallatin National Forest.
“Obviously, our hearts go out to his family. And it is a hard job, and I’ve got a lot of resources on it to figure out who did this… Fact of the matter is, this person was killed. For whatever reason we don’t know. It was a fairly vicious attack, and we are committed to finding out who did this,” Springer said.
The investigation has made progress, but Springer is urging the public to provide any relevant information or observations.
“This occurred up Moose Creek, Tamphery Creek area. About two miles up… If anyone was up in that area, Friday or Saturday morning, and they saw anything, we’re asking them to call us,” Springer said. “This is definitely one of those cases where we’re probably going to need the public’s help.”
Anyone with game or trail cameras in the area is asked to contact the GCSO Detectives Division at 406-582-2121 or by email at detectives@gallatin.mt.gov.
Springer asked that the public keep an eye out for anything that seems out of place in the area, and to be cognizant and aware. Nobody has been taken in custody at this time.
