Police use beer cans to trace suspect in dad's camping trip murder.

A beer can found at a crime scene helped authorities track down a suspect accused of killing a Montana father and avid outdoorsman in his camping tent, officials said.

Daren Christopher Abbey was identified by Gallatin County detectives through a DNA sample obtained from a beer can found near the scene of Dustin Kjersem's death. The sample was sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis.

In October, while camping near Big Sky, Montana, Abbey, 41, is accused of killing Kjersem, 35, in a "chance encounter."

Abbey is currently being held in Butte, Montana, for a probation violation. He will soon be transferred to Gallatin County to face charges of deliberate homicide and two counts of tampering with evidence.

In a press conference on Thursday, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer stated that this crime, which resulted in the death of Dustin Kjersem, was a heinous act committed by someone who disregarded the value of human life.

On Tuesday, Abbey confessed to the murder after being questioned by detectives, according to Springer.

According to his profile on the Montana Department of Correction website, the suspect has numerous tattoos covering his body, including an "iron cross w/ swastika" and another "swastika, SS lightning bolts," which are symbols associated with Germany's Nazi Party.

"Springer stated that the individual who removed items from the campsite had evidence linking him to the crime. He took the cooler, firearms, and ax that he had touched, intending to return to the crime scene the next night and remove more items."

On Thursday, October 10th, Kjersem set up camp in the Moose Creek area, which included a wall tent with a wood stove, beds, lamps, and other items. During Abbey's confession, police discovered that the suspect had planned to camp at this specific location that night.

"Dustin welcomed Springer to the campsite and offered him a beer. At some point, someone struck Dustin Kjersem with a piece of solid wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver, and ultimately hit him with the ax."

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On Friday evening, Oct. 11, Kjersem had planned to leave the campsite and pick up his girlfriend to spend the weekend together, but when he did not show up, his girlfriend became worried.

On Saturday morning, October 12th, she and a companion drove to the campsite and discovered Kjersem lifeless in the tent.

Initially, it was thought that Kjersem's injuries were caused by a bear attack, but later it was discovered that they were the result of a homicide.

"According to Springer, the homicide seems to be a random event with no link between the victim and the suspect."

The suspect resided in Basin, Montana, and worked in the Big Sky area, according to Springer. He was involved in the construction industry.

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"Dustin Kjersem's family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers, said Springer. No one deserves to experience what he is going through. I hope this brings some comfort to all of you, and I'm sorry for your suffering."

Jillian Price, Kjersem's sister, previously revealed to Planet Chronicle Digital that Kjersem has a daughter and a stepson.

She said that she hopes others will remember her brother's caring nature, even though they couldn't hear his laugh.

"The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office and its partners will not tolerate this type of behavior among criminals. You will not succeed in evading us in our community. If you have any desire to commit such crimes, we will track you down and ensure that you never experience the light of day again, Springer stated."

"Despite the suspect's arrest and charges, there remains months of work to be done. The motives of the attack are still unclear, and investigators will continue to gather evidence to create a clearer picture of the events that transpired."