BOZEMAN, Mont. — A man identifying himself as a white supremacist has entered a not guilty plea to charges of deliberate homicide in connection with the death of a man found in a tent in southwestern Montana. The defendant, Daren Christopher Abbey, age 41, claims he acted in self-defense, though investigators have pointed out discrepancies in his account of the events that transpired.
During a court appearance before District Court Judge Peter Ohman, Abbey stated, “I definitely plead not guilty. Dustin Kjersem tried to kill me,” as reported by local media. Along with the homicide charge, Abbey also pleaded not guilty to charges related to tampering with evidence.
The victim, Dustin Kjersem, 35, was found dead on October 12, leading authorities initially to suspect a bear attack after his girlfriend discovered his body in a tent located near Big Sky, south of Bozeman.
Investigators later uncovered items including shot glasses and beer cans that indicated Kjersem had been with someone else prior to his death on October 10. DNA tests on one of the beer cans connected Abbey and an individual believed to be his twin brother, although the brother was cleared as a suspect due to being incarcerated at that time.
Abbey informed investigators that Kjersem had threatened him and his dog with a firearm, prompting Abbey to retaliate, first with a piece of wood and subsequently with a screwdriver, inflicting a stab wound to Kjersem’s neck. Abbey’s account omitted the use of an axe during the altercation at first. He also claimed to have handled the axe in multiple locations, both inside and outside the tent, and mentioned that he cleansed the axe and screwdriver in a nearby creek.
Abbey explained that he did not immediately report the incident due to his criminal past. He admitted to taking a cooler filled with beer and firearms from the scene, returning the following day to search for a beanie he thought he had left behind. Furthermore, he acknowledged removing two cellphones and other items from Kjersem’s vehicle, according to charging documents.
A document from Gallatin County revealed Abbey’s ties to white supremacist groups, and records from the state Department of Corrections confirm that he has tattoos, including an iron cross adorned with a swastika.
Currently, Abbey is being held in jail, with bail set at a substantial $1.5 million.
