By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
Daren Christopher Abbey has been arrested for the murder of 35-year-old Belgrade resident Dustin Kjersem. Abbey confessed to the crime on Oct. 29, according to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
In an Oct. 31 press conference, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer announced that Abbey, 41, is the suspect. According to the sheriff, Abbey lives in Basin, Montana, and worked in the Big Sky area on occasion in the construction business.
“I will no longer refer to him by his name as I don’t want to give him any further notoriety regarding this homicide,” Springer said after announcing Abbey’s name.
DNA from a beer can inside Kjersem’s tent led detectives to Abbey after they sent the can to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis. On Oct. 25, the lab informed GCSO of the match, and Abbey was arrested in the Butte area while leaving a local establishment. He was interviewed by detectives and investigators from the Montana Department of Justice on Oct. 29 and is currently in custody on unrelated charges of probation violation.
“This individual confessed to the murder of Dustin Kjersem,” Springer said. Abbey has been charged with deliberate homicide.
“By all accounts, this homicide appears to be a chance encounter,” Springer said at the conference. “There does not appear to be any connection between our victim and our suspect.”
According to Springer, on Oct. 10, Kjersem set up camp in the Moose Creek area about eight miles north of Big Sky. Kjersem’s plan was to pick up his girlfriend on the evening of Oct. 11 to spend the weekend with her.
“On Friday night, Dustin did not show up to pick up his girlfriend and she became worried. On Saturday morning, she and her friend drove to the campsite and found Dustin deceased in the tent,” Springer said.
In his confession, Abbey said he was looking for a camping spot on the night of Thursday, Oct. 10 and planned to camp where Kjersem had set up, according to Springer.
“As he approached the site, he realized someone was staying there. He stated Dustin welcomed him to the campsite and offered him a beer,” Springer said.
At some point in the evening, Abbey “struck Dustin Kjersem with a piece of solid wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and ultimately hit him with the axe,” the sheriff said. The Estwing camp axe was noted in a previous release as a missing item from the crime scene.
“This appears to be a heinous crime committed by an individual who had no regard for the life of Dustin Kjersem,” Springer said.
“This individual removed items from the campsite he believed had evidence that could tie him to the crime. He removed the items he had touched to include the cooler, the firearms, and the axe,” Springer explained. Abbey returned to the scene of the crime the next night to remove further items.
“To the other criminals out there, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and its partners will not stand for this type of behavior,” Springer said. “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.”
GCSO Captain Nathan Kamerman thanked agencies, volunteers, labs, analysts and members of GCSO who contributed to the investigation.
“I’m thankful to my team, and everyone helping them, for their commitment to finding answers and building this case,” Kamerman said at the press conference. “The community and the Sheriff’s Office can be proud of the work they’ve done.”
Springer thanked his deputies, investigators and families of investigators for their support in the more than three weeks of investigation. He addressed Kjersem’s loved ones.
“To the family and friends of Dustin Kjersem, you are all in our thoughts and prayers,” Springer said. “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.”
After the press conference, Springer told EBS that the Big Sky community was helpful in the investigation.
“I mean, it was right outside their door,” Springer said. “They allowed us to do our job. They provided whatever resources we needed when we asked for it.” He acknowledged that a couple people found some items for GCSO.
“They allowed us the space to get our job done, and we really appreciate that,” Springer said.
Two weeks ago at an Oct. 16 press conference, Springer explained that he and his department didn’t know if there was still a threat to the community. To answer whether it’s safe now, Springer gave one word.
“Yes.”
Abbey is currently being held in Butte and GCSO plans to transfer him to the Gallatin County Detention Center as charges are filed.
