A man was discovered deceased in a tent in Montana, marking a case of homicide rather than a bear attack, as originally assumed.

At around 10 a.m. on Saturday, a caller reported finding “a deceased male in a tent” about 2.5 miles along Moose Creek Road, situated north of Big Sky and roughly 150 miles west of Billings, according to a news statement from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office released on Tuesday.

“The caller suggested that the death might have resulted from a bear attack,” the release noted.

A number of agencies, including the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service, responded to the situation. However, an officer specializing in bear attacks from FWP “did not detect any signs of bear activity at the site,” according to the news release. This led investigators to regard the case as a homicide.

The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Dustin Mitchell Kjersem from Belgrade, Montana.

Further investigations, including an autopsy, supported the determination of homicide, authorities stated. At a news conference on Wednesday, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer reported that the autopsy revealed the victim suffered “multiple chop wounds,” including injuries to the head. While specifics regarding the weapon used remain unclear, Springer stated it was “sufficiently forceful to inflict considerable damage to the skull and various soft tissue areas.”

“This incident was a brutal attack, and detectives are diligently working to gather and follow up on leads,” the news release added.

Victim last seen two days prior

Kjersem’s friend discovered him dead in a tent at a temporary campsite after searching for him upon not hearing from him as planned on Friday, Springer noted during the press conference. The friend was the one who contacted 911, initially suggesting that the death looked like a bear attack, according to Springer.

Authorities reported that Kjersem was last seen in the afternoon on October 10, driving a black 2013 Ford F-150 with a black topper and a silver aluminum ladder rack. Detective Nate Kamerman mentioned that Kjersem was in contact with friends on Thursday afternoon while heading towards the campsite, which has limited cell service, adding that he was unaccounted for between Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Kamerman pointed out that Kjersem’s tent was well-maintained and contained “lots of equipment,” suggesting he intended to spend the weekend there with his friend and had prepared accordingly.

‘A talented craftsman and devoted father’

Dustin Kjersem’s sister, Jillian Price, spoke at the press conference, urging the community to assist in identifying her brother’s assailant. Price described Kjersem, a native of Bozeman who worked throughout the Gallatin Valley, as a talented craftsman and a caring father.

“I implore our community to help find out who did this,” Price stated. “There is someone in our valley capable of such atrocious acts.”

Authorities request the public’s help

No suspects have been named or apprehended so far, with Springer indicating that the remote nature of the crime scene complicates the investigation more than typical cases.

Authorities have asked anyone with information on the case, or those who have game or trail cameras in the vicinity, to “come forward” and reach out to the sheriff’s office at 406-582-2121 or via email at detectives@gallatin.mt.gov.

“Even the tiniest detail could prove vital to our investigation,” the sheriff’s office emphasized on Wednesday. “Your cooperation is greatly valued, and all information is essential.”

Additionally, the sheriff’s office urged residents and visitors to stay alert while in the wilderness and to report any suspicious activities immediately.

“People are asking if there is a danger to the community, and the truthful answer is we do not know,” he remarked. “We’re lacking sufficient information at this moment, but what we are sure of is that someone was out there who took the life of another in a profoundly brutal manner.”

“No piece of information is too insignificant,” said Springer. “If you have anything, please contact us.”