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Beer Can DNA Leads Police to Catch Montana Tent Murder Suspect · Murder Files Unsealed

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Imagine offering someone a beer at your campsite. Yeah, you know,
• 0:03
  just a simple act of kindness, right, and then it
• 0:06
  turns deadly. Yeah, that's what happened to thirty five year
• 0:09
  old Dustin cujurersm Wow, he was murdered while camping your Butte, Montana.
• 0:15
  Speaker 2: Oh my gosh.
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: And get this. The suspect, forty one year old Darren
• 0:20
  Christopher Abbey. Okay, he was eventually caught. And you want
• 0:23
  to know the key to cracking this case, Well, what
• 0:25
  was it? A discarded beer can?
• 0:28
  Speaker 2: Really a beer can? That's right, that's crazy.
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: This case, it's a strange one.
• 0:33
  Speaker 2: It's the randomness that really gets me. Yeah, Like, here'son
• 0:36
  by all accounts, he was a good guy. Yeah, embodied
• 0:39
  that Montana spirit, welcoming Abby into his campsite, even sharing
• 0:44
  a beer with him. Right, it just makes the whole
• 0:46
  thing that much more shocking.
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: It's a real mystery, isn't it. It is, so let's
• 0:49
  try to figure this out.
• 0:50
  Speaker 2: Okay.
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: He here's some setup camp on Thursday, October tenth, all right,
• 0:54
  and Abby arrived later planning the camp in the same spot. Gotcha,
• 0:58
  here's some being the kind soul he was. He invited
• 1:01
  Abby to join him, but then well things went very
• 1:04
  very wrong.
• 1:05
  Speaker 2: Yeah, and this is where it gets really unclear. Yeah,
• 1:09
  despite the confession, we don't know exactly what happened that night.
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: Oh wow, the attack was.
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: Brutal though a piece of wood, a screwdriver, even an axe.
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: Oh my god, this is awful. Makes you think, right, yeah,
• 1:23
  like what could have happened?
• 1:24
  Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, this terrible situation.
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: It is adding to the tragedy. You know, Coulduersom was
• 1:30
  supposed to pick up his girlfriend the next day, right,
• 1:33
  They were going to spend the weekend at the campsite. Yeah,
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  but when he didn't show up, she knew something.
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: Was wrong and she was right. Yeah, she and a
• 1:43
  friend they drove out to the campsite the following morning, right,
• 1:46
  and they found Couldjussom's body inside his tent.
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: It's awful. It really is a parent's worst nightmare. Absolutely,
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  and it wasn't just his girlfriend, you know, his family
• 1:55
  and friends. Everyone was worried, of course, because Couldjusalm. He
• 1:58
  was known for being reliable and kind. Yeah. Even sheriff
• 2:02
  Dan Springer, he said everything pointed to a random encounter. Wow,
• 2:08
  no prior connection between the victim and suspect. It makes
• 2:12
  you wonder how do you even begin to unravel.
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  Speaker 2: A case like that, right, Like, where do you even start?
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  Speaker 1: So how did they find Abby? It sounds like he
• 2:21
  tried to cover his tracks.
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: He did. After the murder, he started removing items from
• 2:26
  the campsite. Yeah, things he thought might link him to
• 2:28
  the crime. He even went back the next day to
• 2:31
  remove more, trying to be smart, you know. Oh wow,
• 2:36
  but there's always that one mistake.
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: Let me guess he left behind that beer can he
• 2:40
  got it? Talk about careless, I know, right, it seems
• 2:43
  so insignificantly.
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: Yeah, but that beer can it became the key to
• 2:47
  the whole investigation.
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: Wow.
• 2:48
  Speaker 2: They were able to get DNA evidence from it and
• 2:51
  run it through CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System.
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  Speaker 1: Oh right, that big database of DNA profile exact, So
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  they got a match. That's incredible. A simple beer can
• 3:02
  led them straight to the suspect.
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: I know, it's crazy, right.
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: It really shows you the power of that technology.
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: Absolutely, even the tiniest piece of evidence can change.
• 3:10
  Speaker 1: Everything, like something out of a TV show. I know, right,
• 3:14
  So what happened next? Well? Did they arrest him right away?
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: Not right away? It was a big effort, the but
• 3:21
  Silverbow Sheriff's office, the Montana Department of Corrections, the Gallatin
• 3:26
  County Sheriff's office. Wow, it took a couple of weeks,
• 3:30
  but on October twenty sixth, they found him in Butte, Okay,
• 3:34
  leaving someplace downtown, and.
• 3:35
  Speaker 1: They arrested him and during questioning, he confessed.
• 3:39
  Speaker 2: He did confess to the murder.
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: So that's it, case closed.
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: Well you'd think so, wouldn't you. Yeah, but this is
• 3:44
  where it gets even weirder. What do you mean he
• 3:47
  didn't give a reason.
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  Speaker 1: So he confessed, but offered no explanation exactly, no motive
• 3:51
  at all.
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  Speaker 2: No.
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  Speaker 1: Wow, that's the biggest question, isn't it?
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  Speaker 2: It is? The why is what everyone wants to know.
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: It's hard to understand.
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: It is what could possibly drive someone to do something
• 4:03
  so awful.
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  Speaker 1: Especially to a complete stranger, right.
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: Someone who was nothing but kind.
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: This is really chilling, it is.
• 4:10
  Speaker 2: The lack of motive makes it even harder to process.
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: I agree. It's almost like a piece of the puzzle.
• 4:16
  Speaker 2: Is missing exactly, and not just any piece, a crucial one.
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: Yeah. It makes it so hard to wrap your head
• 4:23
  around what happened.
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: It really does yeah, Yeah, it really is a baffling situation,
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  it is. You know, even with a confession, the silence
• 4:31
  around the motive, it's just another layer of tragedy on
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  top of everything else.
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  Speaker 1: Right, you'd think there'd be some explanation, you know, it
• 4:39
  however twisted, Yeah.
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  Speaker 2: Like what could possibly be going through someone's mind?
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  Speaker 1: Exactly, It's almost harder to process without a motive.
• 4:46
  Speaker 2: I think you're right.
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  Speaker 1: It makes it feel so senseless.
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  Speaker 2: It does. And while we may never really know why
• 4:52
  Abby did what he did, yeah, what we can focus
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  on is, you know, the impact on Conjerusum's loved ones
• 4:58
  and the community.
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: Of course, a crime like this, it doesn't just affect
• 5:01
  the victim, no, it does. It affects everyone they knew,
• 5:04
  everyone who loved them.
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  Speaker 2: Exactly.
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: What have you learned about ked Jarsen.
• 5:08
  Speaker 2: Well, it seems like he was really loved in Butte.
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  You know, he wasn't just a name and a headline, right.
• 5:13
  He was a son, a brother, a father, yeah, a friend.
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: It's heartbreaking to think about all the people he left behind.
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: It is his sister, Gillian Price, Yeah, she described him
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  as a true Montana boy.
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  Speaker 1: I can see that.
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  Speaker 2: Loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, and apparently an amazing snowboarder.
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  Speaker 1: Wow.
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  Speaker 2: His friend's al said the same thing. Kind, easygoing guy,
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  always willing to help out.
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  Speaker 1: It's just awful to think that someone who brought so
• 5:39
  much joy to others is gone.
• 5:40
  Speaker 2: It really is. And he was a dedicated father too.
• 5:43
  Speaker 1: Yeah.
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  Speaker 2: Price mentioned how she had never seen an adult man
• 5:46
  spend so much time doing arts and crafts with his kids.
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: Oh that's sweet.
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  Speaker 2: It is those little details, you know, they really make
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  you realize.
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  Speaker 1: What was lost they do. It puts things into perspective,
• 5:57
  for sure. It does so in the face of this trage.
• 6:00
  Has there been any kind of community response, Yeah? Absolutely,
• 6:04
  It sounds a curious and mental lot to people.
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  Speaker 2: He did and the community has really rallied around his family.
• 6:10
  That's good to hear, offering support and comfort.
• 6:13
  Speaker 1: Huh.
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  Speaker 2: A GoFundMe campaign was set up, oh wow, to help
• 6:16
  support his children, and it's really seen an outpouring of generosity.
• 6:20
  Speaker 1: That's amazing.
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: The campaign describes Charrism as a loving, helpful, and adoring
• 6:26
  father who is dearly loved by so many in this community.
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: That's really heartwarming to hear.
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: Is it's amazing to see people come together like that.
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: You know, yeah, offering support in a real.
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: Way, right, And the response to the GoFundMe campaign, Yeah,
• 6:40
  it's been incredible.
• 6:41
  Speaker 1: How much have they raised?
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  Speaker 2: Over thirty thousand dollars already.
• 6:44
  Speaker 1: Wow, that's a testament to the kind of impact Caresome
• 6:47
  hat on his community.
• 6:48
  Speaker 2: It really is. Even in the face of tragedy, people
• 6:51
  want to help.
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  Speaker 1: It gives you hope, it does. This whole case makes
• 6:54
  you really appreciate the advancements we've made in forensic science.
• 6:58
  Speaker 2: Oh.
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  Speaker 1: Absolutely, Without that DNA evidence from the beer can, who
• 7:03
  knows how long it would have taken to catch Chairism's killer.
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: That's true. It's amazing to think about. Yeah, that such
• 7:09
  a small discarded item could be the key to solving
• 7:13
  a murder.
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: I know, it's my bogway.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, imagine if they had overlooked that beer can.
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: Yeah, Abby might.
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  Speaker 2: Still be out there.
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  Speaker 1: That's a scary thought, it is.
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  Speaker 2: It really shows the importance of thorough investigation, right.
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  Speaker 1: Not dismissing any piece of.
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  Speaker 2: Evidence exactly, No matter how small.
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  Speaker 1: It's like a real life puzzle, it is.
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: Every piece contributes to the bigger picture.
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: In this case, it really shows that even in seemingly
• 7:36
  peaceful places like a campsite. Right, darkness can lurk anywhere.
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  Speaker 2: It can you just never know.
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  Speaker 1: It's chilling, and it makes you wonder how well can
• 7:45
  we ever truly know someone? Yeah, carism. He was so trusting.
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  He welcomed Abby into his space, offered him a beer,
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  and in the.
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  Speaker 2: End he paid the ultimate price for his kindness.
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  Speaker 1: It's a tragic reminder that we can't predict the actions
• 8:00
  of others.
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  Speaker 2: We can't this case. It really leaves us with more
• 8:03
  questions than answers.
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: It does, especially when it comes to understanding Abby's motive.
• 8:08
  Speaker 2: Yeah, we may never know why.
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  Speaker 1: It's a reminder that even in what we think are
• 8:11
  safe environments, we need to be aware.
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: Yeah, we can't live in fear, but we can be cautious.
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: It's about finding that balance.
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: It is trusting your instincts but also being vigilant.
• 8:21
  Speaker 1: In this case, it's a tough.
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: Lesson, it is, but it's a vital one.
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  Speaker 1: It also shows the power of community, oh for sure,
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  how people can come together to support each other during
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  a tragedy.
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  Speaker 2: That's the one thing we can control.
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  Speaker 1: Right, we can choose how we respond exactly. So while
• 8:38
  we might never fully understand why Abby did what he did. Yeah,
• 8:42
  we can learn from this case absolutely, be more aware
• 8:45
  to cherish our loved ones and build stronger communities.
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  Speaker 2: Couldn't have said it better myself, it really is. It's
• 8:51
  a lot to think.
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  Speaker 1: About, it is, this case. It's got everything, yeah, the mystery,
• 8:56
  the forensic science, the human.
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  Speaker 2: Impact, right, and it leaves us with so many questions.
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: It does, but it also shows how strong people can be, yeah,
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  and how much a community can come together to support
• 9:07
  each other.
• 9:08
  Speaker 2: It's really amazing to see.
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: It is like that GoFundMe campaign. Oh yeah, it's incredible
• 9:12
  how much they've raised.
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: It is to help Casum's kids have a future, you know, right,
• 9:18
  it's really something.
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: It is. If any of our listeners want to help out,
• 9:21
  they can find a link to the GoFundMe page in
• 9:23
  the show notes.
• 9:24
  Speaker 2: Every little bit counts, it.
• 9:26
  Speaker 1: Does, and it's a way to give back and help
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  those affected by this tragedy exactly. So, as we wrap
• 9:32
  up our deep dive into this case, it's important to
• 9:35
  remember Dustin Careersome for who he was. Absolutely you know,
• 9:40
  a good person.
• 9:41
  Speaker 2: Yeah, a loving fathers, a man who even in his
• 9:45
  final moments was thinking of others.
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  Speaker 1: That really says something.
• 9:50
  Speaker 2: It does, it really does.
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  Speaker 1: You know, sometimes these deep dives they leave us with
• 9:54
  more questions than answers. That's true, and this is one
• 9:57
  of those times it is.
• 9:58
  Speaker 2: But maybe that's okay. Maybe it's the not knowing that
• 10:01
  makes us think harder.
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: Yeah, to really try and understand.
• 10:04
  Speaker 2: Things exactly makes us reflect.
• 10:06
  Speaker 1: It does in our own lives, our communities, you know,
• 10:10
  the choices we make every day.
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  Speaker 2: So as we leave our listeners with the story, Yeah,
• 10:15
  what's one thing you hope they take away from it?
• 10:17
  Speaker 1: I think it's to appreciate what you have. You know,
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  your loved ones, your friends, Be aware.
• 10:24
  Speaker 2: Of what's going on around you, be present. Yeah, and
• 10:27
  remember that even small acts of kindness can make a difference.
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: That's a great message.
• 10:32
  Speaker 2: It's something we should all strive for.
• 10:33
  Speaker 1: It is and to our listeners, thank you for joining
• 10:36
  us on this deep dive.
• 10:37
  Speaker 2: We'll see you next time.