White Supremacist Convicted in Campsite Killing Initially Mistaken for Animal Attack
A white supremacist has been found guilty of a deliberate homicide so vicious that authorities first believed the victim had been killed in a bear attack. Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, was convicted on Monday for the murder of Dustin Kjersem at a campsite near Big Sky, Montana, in October 2024.
A Grisly Discovery and a Shift in Investigation
The case began when Mr Kjersem's girlfriend and a friend discovered his body inside his tent on October 12, 2024. The scene was so brutal that they reported it as a possible bear mauling. However, the investigation took a sharp turn when wildlife agents examined the area and found no evidence of a bear, prompting a homicide probe.
Prosecutors detailed how Abbey attacked Kjersem with a block of wood, an axe, and a screwdriver after the two met at the campsite. Abbey later admitted to stealing Kjersem's guns, cooler, mobile phones, and other personal items in an attempt to conceal evidence of the crime.
DNA Evidence and White Supremacist Links
A crucial piece of evidence was a beer can found inside the tent. DNA tests on the can matched two individuals in the state's criminal database: Daren Abbey and a man believed to be his twin brother. The brother was subsequently ruled out as a suspect because he was serving a prison sentence at the time.
Official records from the Montana Department of Corrections confirmed Abbey's affiliation with white supremacist ideology. An inmate document from Gallatin County noted this connection, and his tattoos, which included an iron cross with a swastika, were documented.
During the trial, Abbey claimed he acted in self-defence after being threatened by Kjersem. However, authorities pointed to multiple inconsistencies in his story and evidence of numerous chop wounds on the victim, which contradicted his account.
Verdict and Sentencing
Following a six-day trial, the jury found Abbey guilty of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence. Deliberate homicide is a capital offence in Montana, but the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office, represented by Jack Veil, confirmed that prosecutors will not seek the death penalty in this case.
Abbey is scheduled to be sentenced by State District Judge Peter Ohman on December 30. The victim, Dustin Kjersem, was a self-employed contractor who built homes and was skilled in various trades. He was described by his sister as a father of two children.
