Everyone Thought Camper Was Killed by a Bear. But It Was a Man, Not a Beast, Who Killed Him. Now He's Heading to Prison By Sean Neumann

A Montana man has been convicted in the 2024 killing of camper Dustin Kjersem — officially closing a murder case so brutal that officials first believed a bear was responsible for mauling Kjersem to death.

Daren Christopher Abbey was convicted on Monday, Nov. 10 for Kjersem’s mid-October 2024 killing while he was camped at a remote site off Moose Creek Road, just north of Big Sky, Mont., according to reports by NBC News, CBS News and The Associated Press.

The outlets reported that Abbey was convicted of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence following a six-day trial, which comes more than a year after he was arrested.

Kjersem disappeared on Thursday, Oct. 10 before he was found dead inside his tent two days later by another concerned camper who stopped to check on him. The crime scene was so gruesome that the camper told police they believed a bear had mauled Kjersem to death, PEOPLE previously reported.

But wildlife officials in the area were skeptical, telling authorities there were no signs of a bear in the area. Then, after days of investigating the scene and performing an autopsy on Kjersem’s body, authorities learned the truth: Kjersem was fiercely struck over the head with a block of wood before Abbey hatched him with an ax and then stabbed him with a screwdriver.

Abbey, who reportedly has ties to white supremacist groups, according to the AP, was tied to the crime scene via DNA evidence and later confessed to the killing after first claiming self defense.

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The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office first announced they had a suspect in custody on Oct. 30, PEOPLE reported last year, noting that investigators believed Abbey “acted alone.”

“This incident was a vicious attack,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release at the time.

Kjersem’s sister told the AP that her brother, who lived in Belgrade, Mont., had two children. The family member added that Kjerem was a local contractor, who worked on building homes.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer testified during the trial that Abbey told police he showed up at Kjersem’s campsite hoping to stay there but found Kjersem already there instead, according to NBC News. Kjersem welcomed Abbey to stay the night despite not knowing who he was beforehand and offered Abbey a beer, Springer added.

Abbey will appear in court for sentencing on Dec. 30, according to the AP.