Beer Can DNA Leads to Montana Murder Suspect

In a twist that’s stranger than fiction, a beer can has helped investigators solve a murder that was initially mistaken for a bear attack. The gruesome killing occurred in October 2024, when 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem was found dead in his tent near Big Sky, Montana. Initially, it seemed like a wild animal was responsible, but a closer look revealed that a human was behind the attack. Police charged 41-year-old Daren Christopher Abbey from Basin, Montana, after DNA evidence from a beer can in Kjersem's tent led them to him. During a press conference, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer revealed that Abbey confessed to the crime after investigators zeroed in on him. The killing appeared random, with no clear connection between the victim and suspect. They had merely crossed paths in the woods when Abbey was looking for a camping spot. Kjersem had already set up his tent on the land Abbey was considering. The two shared a beer, but things took a dark turn when Abbey attacked Kjersem, striking him with a piece of wood, stabbing him in the neck with a screwdriver, and then using an ax. A friend of Kjersem's, who was supposed to meet him that night, discovered his body. The friend was so convinced it was a bear attack that he told the dispatcher as much when he called 911. However, investigators found no signs of bear activity, leading them to consider a human assailant. Abbey reportedly returned to the crime scene to remove any incriminating items, but he overlooked the beer can that ultimately led to his arrest. An autopsy revealed that Kjersem's skull had sustained significant damage, and he died from multiple wounds inflicted by Abbey. Even with Abbey's confession, the motive behind the attack remains a mystery. "We have pieces of the story, but we don't know the full truth, " Springer said.