A Montana camper believed to be mauled by a bear turned out to be a victim of a brutal homicide, authorities said Wednesday. Dustin Kjersem, 35, of Belgrade, about an hour-and-half drive southeast of Helena, went camping northeast of Big Sky on October 10, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said at a news conference Wednesday.

When Dustin Kjersem was found dead inside his tent at a remote Montana campsite, the victim had injuries so brutal that it was initially reported as a possible bear mauling.

Dustin Kjersem sustained "multiple chop wounds," including to his skull, an autopsy revealed. His killer has not been found.

Dustin Kjersem, 35, was found dead in his tent with “chop wounds” on Saturday, the authorities said. No arrests have been made.

There have been previous grizzly bear attacks in the forests of southwestern Montana, but investigators found no evidence of any bears at Kjersem’s campsite. They’re now investigating 35-year-old Kjersem’s death as a homicide,