Why Duncan abandoned Stryker camp

Bryan Olson, a forest service worker from South Dakota, testified this morning that he encountered Duncan near the campsite the admitted murderer had set up near Stryker, Mont. in May of 2005, while Olson was spraying for weeds at a nearby gravel pit. “He was walking across the gravel pit from the west side with an armload of bamboo poles under his arm,” Olson told the court; the poles were used at a nearby Forest Service tree nursery. Duncan approached Olson. “We had backpack spray units … (and) a spray truck,” Olson said. “He approached us probably two or three feet away. … He looked a little bit scruffy, like he’d been out camping for quite a bit of time. I woulda guessed he was in his 40s. … He asked us what we were doing in the area, and why we were working on a Saturday.” Olson said, “It was actually Monday, and we were treating noxious weeds in the area.” Duncan accepted the answer and left.