Moose Creek Murderer Sentenced to 100 Years in Case Initially Believed to Be a Bear Attack
Share
On October 16, 2024, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office issued an online public appeal in connection with a homicide. Four days earlier, on October 12, the body of 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem was discovered inside a tent along Moose Creek Road, north of Big Sky, Montana, an isolated area with no cell phone service.
Kjersem, a tradesman and father, was last seen alive on October 10, 2024, and was reported missing when he failed to meet his girlfriend as they had originally planned. When he didn’t show up, his girlfriend panicked, searched for him and found his body at his campsite.
At first, she thought he had been mauled by a bear due to the extent of the damage. When the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks agency and wildlife officials analysed the scene, they reported no signs that bears had been in the area around the time of Kjersem’s death.
Police began investigating Kjersem's death as a homicide, highlighting the items stolen from the victim’s possessions, including: a camp axe, a Remington shotgun, a .44 magnum pistol, and an orange YETI brand cooler.
Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, of Basin, Montana, was arrested and charged with Kjersem's murder in late October of 2024. He was linked to the murder scene via DNA collected from a beer can at the scene.
The suspect has a twin brother who was incarcerated in Shelby at the time and was ruled out as a suspect in the murder of Kjersem.
Following his arrest, Abbey told investigators that he went to the campsite looking for a place to stay and ended up talking to Kjersem. He said they had a couple of beers together.
He said that his dog, which had muddy paws, had walked on Kjersem’s air mattress and gotten it dirty, and that Kjersem then began threatening him, and a fight ensued.
The injuries sustained by Kjersem were so brutal that the murder was first thought to have been a bear mauling attack. His skull suffered extensive damage in several places.
In Abbey's version of events, he claimed he struck Kjersem with a piece of firewood, attacked him with a screwdriver, sinking it into his neck, and hit him in the face with the backside of an axe. He claimed the attack was self-defence, however, authorities found inconsistencies in his story and noted a lack of defensive wounds on Abbey.
Court documents state that Abbey also took the victim's missing belongings and attempted to clean or conceal two of the murder weapons in a nearby creek. He also admitted to returning to the campsite the following day to retrieve his hat and remove other items from the scene that could link him to the crime, including the victim’s cell phones.
Abbey had also been hanging around in the area for a while, including The Rocks Tasting Room liquor store and Big Sky Resort, a ski resort within Big Sky, Montana. Complaints had been made against Abbey, who had been making patrons and employees uncomfortable with conversations about prison, as well as white supremacist-related comments.
Media outlets report that he was identified through images captured on surveillance cameras at the resort.
Daren Christopher Abbey was found guilty of the murder of Dustin Kjersem in November 2025. He was found guilty by a Gallatin County jury of deliberate homicide and tampering with physical evidence, and it took the jury about three hours to make their decision.
In court, the victim's loved ones spoke of Kjersem’s character, stating that he was a very calm individual who rarely expressed anger. They described him as “sensitive, thoughtful and caring,” a generous man who was a blessing to those around him.
The victim’s girlfriend, Natalie Holloway, said:
“He was calm in a way that's so rare in this world. Nothing rattled . Nothing made him angry. He was sensitive, thoughtful, caring. He worked hard and took pride in making everything he touched better than he found it.”
In court, Abbey claimed he didn't intend to kill Kjersem and asked for leniency.
Judge Peter Ohman said of the murder:
“The brutality of this crime and the use of multiple weapons to kill Mr. Kjersem conflicts starkly with any claim of self-defense.”
Abbey was sentenced to 100 years in prison. Although he initially appeared remorseful in court, his attitude shifted to anger when he heard the verdict, telling the judge:
“Well, I'll be appealing your crooked ass court system.”
He is not eligible for parole for 80 years.
Following the sentencing, Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell said:
“Some people are meant to be separated from society. Darren Abbey is one of them. The violence he inflicted, his actions afterward, and the lifelong harm he caused demonstrate that he can never safely be allowed back into our community.”