The investigation into the killing of a man near Big Sky is ongoing

On Saturday, October 12, 2024, 35-year-old Dustin Mitchell Kjersem was found dead in his tent while camping near Big Sky.

At a campsite off the beaten path, there are still flags marking study areas.

As investigators work on the case, the chilling details of the Moose Creek murder go viral.

“Something like that, because it’s a pretty unusual case, they’ve had reports from all over the country. We contacted the New York Times, Good Morning America and several other outlets,” said Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer.

Sheriff Springer says that despite its continental appeal, it is a local problem: “On the same page, it is probably a local problem. There is nothing to suggest that this is just a local problem.”

WATCH PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Sister of Dustin Kjersem asks community for help in finding his killer

Sister of a man murdered near Big Sky is asking the community for help finding his killer

Springer goes on to say that the details of this case are unusual.

“Certainly the location and the violence are the two things that are most disturbing,” he says. “At the same time, the public needs to know that we have outstanding investigators on the case. “I know that this sheriff’s office has an interest in finding out who committed this murder.”

The sheriff understands why the public may feel unsafe.

“Now that we have more information, I understand why they think that way. At this point we go back to what we said before: you must remain vigilant. If you notice anything suspicious, call us. “We don’t feel like we’re too busy,” says Springer.

I went to the wooded campsite where Kjersem was found; The drive there from Bozeman took about 50 minutes.

The sheriff says many agencies searched the location for evidence.

“The Department of Justice, the Criminal Investigation Department and some of them are helping with different scene processing capabilities,” Springer said.

The sheriff is convinced that with the right means they will catch the person responsible for the brutal murder of Kjersem, a Belgrade native and father.

“The more resources we can put into this, the more information we can gather and the more public involvement, the better off we are and the better chance we have of solving the problem.”