Suspect Identified in Death of Montana Man Initially Thought to Have Been Killed by Bear

A suspect is in custody over the death of a Montana man who was initially believed to have been killed in his tent by a bear.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a release that they had “identified a suspect” after the body of Dustin Kjersem, 35, was found in a tent approximately 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road, north of Big Sky, Mont., on Saturday, Oct. 12.

“The suspect is currently in custody on unrelated charges. The suspect is cooperating with our detectives,” Sheriff Dan Springer said in the release, adding that the suspect had led them to “evidence” in the case.

“The investigation into this homicide continues. It is believed the suspect acted alone and there is no longer a threat to the community,” Springer said, without releasing the individual’s name.

“Further details and charges are forthcoming, but it is important for this community to know they are safe to resume their outdoor activities. The Sheriff’s Office will have no further comment in regard to this investigation until charges are filed,” the release added.

Springer also thanked the sheriff’s office detectives “for their unrelenting pursuit of justice on this case.” 

“They have worked day and night for nearly three weeks with limited sleep, limited time with their families and limited time to themselves. They have prioritized the safety of this community and the need to locate Dustin Kjersem’s killer above all else,” the sheriff stated. 

“It is this type of dedication that makes the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement officers special. This community should be proud of the men and women who have chosen a life of service to keep you, your families, and your friends safe,” Springer insisted, as well as thanking the multiple other agencies who helped work on the case.

Kjersem, of Belgrade, Mont., was last seen on Thursday, Oct. 10, before his body was found around 10:07 a.m. local time two days later.

Springer concluded in the latest release, “Our thoughts and prayers continue for the family of Dustin Kjersem. We hope, by some small measure, our efforts can bring them a bit of peace during this horrific time. Our entire community mourns with you.”

On Thursday, Oct. 24, the sheriff’s office confirmed they were looking for multiple items “believed to have been removed from the scene of the crime” in a release, including a camp axe, a shotgun, a revolver and a cooler.

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The person who discovered Kjersem’s body initially thought it was the result of a bear attack. But a state Fish, Wildlife and Parks agent did not find any evidence of bear activity in the area, the sheriff’s office previously said in an Oct. 15 release.

“This prompted investigators to treat the case as a homicide. Evidence gathered through an autopsy further indicated that this was a homicide,” the sheriff’s office said at the time.

“This incident was a vicious attack, and detectives are working hard to develop and track down leads,” they previously added.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.