Bond set at $1.5 million for suspect in Big Sky murder

BIG SKY, Mont. — Bond was set at $1.5 million for Daren Christopher Abbey, who is charged with premeditated murder in the death of 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem.

His preliminary hearing will be held on November 15.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office said Abbey is a suspect in Kjersem’s murder near Big Sky.

Abbey, 41, was arrested in Butte earlier this week and reportedly confessed to the murder.

On Thursday, Abbey was transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center and charged.

On October 10, Kjersem reached the Moose Creek area near Big Sky. His plan was to return to the city the next night to see his girlfriend. Kjersem’s girlfriend became worried when he didn’t return.

On October 12, Kjersem’s girlfriend went to the campsite and found Kjersem dead inside his tent, with severe wounds to his skull and body.

It was initially thought to be a bear attack. An autopsy revealed the man suffered multiple slash wounds. The incident was later investigated as a murder.

At Thursday’s news conference, Sheriff Dan Springer said Abbey admitted he planned to camp in the Moose Creek area where he encountered Kjersem on Oct. 10.

Kjersem reportedly offered Abbey a beer, and at one point Abbey hit Kjersem with a piece of solid wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and finally hit him with an axe, according to Springer.

Abbey’s motive is unclear at this time, according to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

Springer said Abbey recovered evidence from the crime scene that linked him to the crime, including an axe, guns and an orange cooler.

During the investigation, DNA was taken from a beer can at Kjersem’s campsite. Authorities say the DNA matched Abbey’s.