A man discovered deceased in a tent by his friend was first thought to have been attacked by a bear, but authorities now suspect he was murdered in a brutal manner.
Dustin Kjersem, 35, was supposed to meet a friend on the afternoon of October 11 but did not appear for their meeting as expected. Concerned, the friend went looking for Kjersem the following day, October 12, and found him dead at a temporary campsite.
After making this grim discovery, the friend called 911, initially suggesting to the emergency responders that Kjersem’s death resulted from a bear attack, according to The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
CBS News reports that a representative from the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks agency, who is skilled in assessing bear attacks, visited the scene, located north of Big Sky, Montana.
NBC News points out that the expert did not uncover any evidence of bear presence at the site.
Investigators subsequently identified signs of a ‘vicious attack,’ leading them to pursue the case as a ‘brutal’ homicide, as stated by Sheriff Dan Springer.
Kjersem, whom his sister Jillian Price called a ‘caring’ brother, was found dead shortly after 10 am local time.
The man, who drove a black 2013 Ford F-150, sustained ‘multiple chop wounds which led to his death,’ according to the results of an official autopsy.
“We’re following up on leads but we have no arrest at this time,” a Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said. “We’re asking the community members to help us.”
Currently, neither suspects nor a murder weapon have been located.
Authorities also mention that the secluded area where Kjersem died might complicate the investigation compared to other homicide cases.
When questioned on whether there was any ongoing threat to the public, the officer in charge noted that the team was uncertain.
“We don’t have enough information to know at this time,” he responded.
Officials have since advised the public to exercise caution, especially if engaging in wild camping or spending time in forested areas, as reported by the Independent.
“We do know that someone was out there who killed someone in a very heinous way, so if you’re out in the woods, you need to be paying attention, you need to remain vigilant.”
“Think of the whole canyon,” Captain Nathan Kamerman advised.
“If you saw something unusual in the canyon area, or in town with his truck, please reach out to us.”
Individuals with information are encouraged to contact the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office at 406-582-2121 for messages during office hours, or after hours at 406-582-2100 and select option 1 to speak with a dispatcher.