Suspect arrested for murder initially believed to have come from a bear

A suspect in the killing of a man whose death in Montana was initially caused by a bear is in custody, the Gallatin County sheriff said Wednesday.

The suspect in the death of Dustin Kjersem, whose body was found in a remote area on October 12, was not immediately released.

“The suspect is currently in custody on unrelated charges,” Sheriff Dan Springer said in a statement. “The suspect is cooperating with our investigators and has led us to the evidence we identified in previous press releases.”

The suspect acted alone and there is no threat to the community, Springer said.

The body of 35-year-old Kjersem of Belgrade, Montana, was found in his tent about 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road, and the person who found the remains reported that the body may have been that of a bear, they said Officer.

The attack was described as “vicious” and Kjersem died after suffering “multiple lacerations,” according to his autopsy, Gallatin County Sheriff's Capt. Nathan Kamerman said earlier this month.

Kjersem was last seen on October 10, two days before his body was found.

Kjersem was in an area that is not an official campground, but rather a “normal Forest Service area where people set up their own campsites” and where many hunters, outfitters and people live in the area, the sheriff said.

The murder remains under investigation, the sheriff said.

During the investigation last week, officials said and identified items missing from the campground, including a shotgun, a revolver, a cooler and an axe, and urged the public to be on the lookout for them.

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Dustin Kjersem’s family,” Springer said Wednesday. “We hope our efforts can bring them some peace during this terrible time. Our entire community mourns with you.”