Bail is set at $1.5 million for the suspect in the Big Sky murder

BIG SKY, Mont. — Bail is set at $1.5 million for Darren Christopher Abbey, who is charged with the intentional homicide of 35-year-old Dustin Kiersem.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 15.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office says Abby is suspected of killing Kjersem near Big Sky.

Abbey, 41, was arrested in Butte earlier this week and reportedly confessed to the murder.

On Thursday, Abby was taken to the Gallatin County Detention Center and charged.

On October 10, Kiersem arrived in the Moose Creek area near Big Sky. His plans were to go back to town the next night to see his girlfriend. Kjersem’s girlfriend became worried when he did not return.

On October 12, Kjersem’s girlfriend arrived at the campsite and found Kjersem dead in his tent with serious head and body injuries.

At first, it was thought to be a bear attack. The examination showed that he received numerous stab wounds. Later, the case was investigated as a murder.

During a news conference Thursday, Sheriff Dan Springer said Abbey admitted he planned to go camping on Oct. 10 in the Moose Creek area, where he met Kiersem.

Kjersem reportedly offered Abby a beer and, according to Springer, at one point Abby hit Kjersem with a piece of hardwood, hit him in the neck with a screwdriver and eventually hit him with an axe.

According to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Abby’s motive is unclear at this time.

Springer says Abby removed evidence from the crime scene that he touched that could link him to the crime, including an ax, guns and an orange cooler.

During the investigation, DNA was taken from a can of beer at Kjersema’s campsite. Officials say the DNA matched Abby’s.