Authorities in Montana revealed that a beer can offered by a victim to his alleged killer helped solve the gruesome murder.
When 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem was initially found slain in his tent on Oct. 12, his friends thought he was the victim of a bear attack.
His death turned into a homicide investigation after police and wildlife agents found no sign of a bear in the area.
DNA found on a beer can from the campsite led authorities to a 41-year-old suspect.
The man, who was arrested in Butte, Montana this week, admitted to killing Kjersem.
Investigators said the suspect arrived at the Big Sky campsite two days earlier to stay for the night but found Kjersem already occupying the place.
Kjersem welcomed the alleged murderer and offered him a beer but things turned violent shortly later.
For unknown reasons, the guest attacked Kjersem with a piece of wood, a screwdriver, and an axe leaving him dead in a pool of blood.
The suspect was charged with murder. His bond was set at $1.5 million, the sheriff’s department said.
