Montana man convicted of murder in campsite killing

A assemblage has recovered a antheral with links to achromatic supremacists blameworthy of execution successful a brutal sidesplitting astatine a southwestern Montana campsite

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- A assemblage has recovered a antheral with links to achromatic supremacists blameworthy of execution successful a brutal killing astatine a southwestern Montana campsite past twelvemonth that was initially reported arsenic a imaginable carnivore attack.

Daren Christopher Abbey attacked Dustin Kjersem with a artifact of wood, an axe and a screwdriver aft they met astatine Kjersem's campsite adjacent Big Sky, Montana successful October, 2024, according to prosecutors.

The suspect aboriginal admitted to taking Kjersem's guns, cooler, cellphones and different belongings and concealing evidence.

Abbey was linked to the execution country by DNA recovered connected a brew tin wrong the tent. He claimed the sidesplitting was in self-defense aft Kjersem threatened him. Authorities said determination were inconsistencies successful his story, and pointed to aggregate chop wounds successful the attack.

The victim’s woman and different person recovered his assemblage and reported it arsenic a imaginable carnivore attack. It turned into a homicide probe aft wildlife agents recovered nary motion of a carnivore successful the area.

Kjersem had 2 children and worked arsenic a self-employed contractor, gathering homes and learning different trades, according to his sister. Abbey told authorities that helium arrived astatine the campsite intending to enactment the nighttime and was welcomed by Kjersem, who didn't cognize him, according to Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer.

Following a six-day proceedings the assemblage recovered Abbey blameworthy connected Monday of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence, tribunal records show.

An inmate accusation papers from Gallatin County past twelvemonth said the suspect listed an organizational affiliation with achromatic supremacists. State Department of Corrections records said his tattoos included an robust transverse with a swastika.

Abbey faces a Dec. 30 sentencing earlier authorities District Judge Peter Ohman.

Deliberate homicide is simply a superior discourtesy successful Montana but prosecutors volition not question the decease punishment successful the case, said Jack Veil with the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office.

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