Montana man charged with murder in brutal campground killing

BOZEMAN, Mont. — A 41-year-old Montana man was charged with murder Friday in a brutal killing at a remote campground that was initially reported as a possible bear killing by people who found the victim's body.

The suspect reportedly told authorities that he arrived at the campground northeast of Big Sky, Montana, on October 10 to spend the night, but found it occupied by 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem.

Kjersem, who did not know the suspect, greeted him at the campsite and offered him a beer, according to Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer.

But some time later, the suspect, whose motive was unknown, hit Kjersem with a piece of wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver and hit him with an ax, Springer said.

The victim's girlfriend and another friend found his body on Oct. 12 and reported it as a possible bear attack. A murder investigation was launched after wildlife investigators found no signs of a bear in the area.

After DNA found on a campground beer can was matched to the suspect's DNA, he was tracked down and arrested this week in Butte, Montana, Springer said.

He was being held on $1.5 million bail, according to sheriff's department records.