A brutal campsite murder in Montana that fooled investigators into thinking it was a bear attack has ended with justice served, as a jury convicted the white supremacist killer who brutally attacked an innocent father with multiple weapons.
Story Highlights
- Daren Christopher Abbey was convicted of deliberate homicide for killing Dustin Kjersem at a Montana campsite.
- The victim was a skilled contractor and father of two who welcomed a stranger to his campsite.
- Abbey used an axe, a screwdriver, and a wooden block in a brutal attack, then stole the victim’s guns and belongings.
- DNA evidence on the beer can linked Abbey to the crime scene despite his self-defense claims.
Justice Delivered After Deceptive Investigation
Daren Christopher Abbey received a guilty verdict on November 10, 2025, following a six-day trial for the deliberate homicide of Dustin Kjersem.
The Gallatin County jury also convicted Abbey of tampering with evidence after prosecutors proved he brutally attacked Kjersem with a block of wood, an axe, and a screwdriver at a campsite near Big Sky, Montana, in October 2024. Abbey will face sentencing on December 30, 2025, before state District Judge Peter Ohman.
White supremacist guilty of killing so brutal it was first reported as a bear attack https://t.co/5eoqQIXfhx pic.twitter.com/SMnyS9U5b1
— The Independent (@Independent) November 13, 2025
Violent Criminal Exploited Victim’s Kindness
Kjersem, a self-employed contractor and father of two, welcomed Abbey to his campsite despite being strangers, according to Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer. Abbey arrived intending to stay the night and was received with typical Montana hospitality.
The victim’s sister, Jillian Price, described Kjersem as a skilled tradesman and doting father who built homes and pursued various trades. This act of kindness toward a stranger ultimately cost Kjersem his life when Abbey turned violent.
Evidence Contradicted Self-Defense Claims
Abbey claimed self-defense after authorities linked him to the murder through DNA found on a beer can inside the tent. However, the autopsy revealed multiple chop wounds to Kjersem’s skull and body, contradicting Abbey’s story of a simple altercation.
Prosecutors highlighted inconsistencies in Abbey’s account, while his admission to stealing guns, a cooler, cellphones, and other belongings from the scene undermined his credibility. Abbey even returned the next day, searching for a beanie he thought he had left behind.
White Supremacist Background Revealed
Court documents revealed Abbey’s connections to white supremacist organizations, with inmate records showing his organizational affiliations and tattoos, including an iron cross with a swastika.
Abbey’s criminal history included a felony record, which he cited as his reason for not reporting the alleged altercation. Despite Montana allowing capital punishment for deliberate homicide, prosecutors chose not to seek the death penalty in this case, according to Jack Veil with the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office.
