A self-professed white supremacist has pleaded not guilty to murdering a man whose body was found in a tent in Montana, initially mistaken for a bear attack. Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, appeared in court on Thursday, claiming he acted in self-defence against the victim, Dustin Kjersen, 35.
Kjersen's body was discovered on October 12 in Big Sky, Montana, after his girlfriend went to check on him. The severity of his wounds led her to believe he had been mauled by a bear. However, an autopsy revealed multiple chop wounds, including to the skull, with no evidence of animal involvement.
DNA from a beer can and shot glasses at the scene matched Abbey and his twin brother, who was ruled out as he is already serving a prison sentence. Abbey was arrested three weeks later and confessed to the killing, telling detectives that Kjersen threatened him with a gun and attacked him. Abbey said he struck Kjersen with a block of wood and stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver.
Investigators noted that Abbey failed to mention using an axe in the attack until questioned, offering inconsistent stories. He also admitted to rinsing the axe and screwdriver in a nearby creek. Abbey faces charges of deliberate homicide and evidence tampering, the latter for allegedly taking items from the campsite, including two mobile phones from Kjersen's truck.
Court records show Abbey listed his affiliation with a white supremacist group after his arrest, and officials noted far-right tattoos, including an iron cross with a swastika. The incident has been described by investigators as a 'chance encounter' between the two men.
