Montana authorities are searching for the killer as the death was reported as a “brutal” murder and bear attack

Authorities in Montana are searching for a killer “capable of truly heinous things” as they investigate the death of a man whose friend first told police he may have been the victim of a bear attack.

Dustin Mitchell Kjersem, 35, was found dead in a “vicious” attack Saturday morning while camping in his tent in Big Sky, the Gallatin Police Department said.

The friend who found Kjersem’s body thought it might be a bear attack, but a Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks agent with experience in bear attacks found no evidence of bear activity at the scene.

“He was brutally killed at his campsite and we need your help,” Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said during a news conference Wednesday, calling for witnesses and anyone who may have video evidence from the time Kjersem went missing could have contributed to the discovery of his body.

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Kjersem was last seen on October 10th when he went camping. He had planned to meet a friend the next day but never made it. The friend went looking for Kjersem and eventually found his body, authorities said.

He died of “multiple lacerations,” the sheriff said, adding that no arrests have been made.

“This weekend we lost our brother and our son, our uncle, our best friend and our father in unimaginable ways. Dustin was a great kid,” Kjersem’s sister Jillian Price said at the press conference. “He was a loving, supportive and adoring father who in no way deserved this.”

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Dustin Kjersem was last seen on October 10th driving a black 2013 Ford F-150 with a black roof and silver aluminum ladder rack in the Moose Creek area. (Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office)

Springer said authorities don’t have enough information to know whether there is a threat to the community at this time, but added: “There is someone in our valley who is capable of truly heinous things.”

“We know there is someone out there who has killed someone in a very heinous way. “So when you are out in the woods, you need to pay attention and stay vigilant,” he warned. “If you notice anything suspicious, please just give us a call.”

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said because there is no suspect yet, he cannot confirm there is no threat to the community. (Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office)

Springer said he didn’t know what weapon the killer used, but said it was something “hard enough to cause significant damage to the skull.”

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Kjersem was last seen Oct. 10 driving a black 2013 Ford F-150 with a black roof and silver aluminum ladder rack in the Moose Creek area.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department for updates.