A longtime sex offender was sentenced to death Wednesday for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of a 9-year-old northern Idaho boy after federal jurors who watched video of some of the brutality deliberated just three hours.


Shasta Groene was 8 when Duncan abducted her and her brother, Dylan.
3 of 3 The jurors' recommendation was binding on U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge, who thanked them, dismissed them and then sentenced Joseph Edward Duncan III.

Relatives of the victim, Dylan Groene, remained somber as the jury's decision was announced. Duncan murdered Dylan's mother, older brother and his mother's fiance to kidnap him and his younger sister, who was sexually abused along with her brother but survived.

"The jury speaks the mind of the community," U.S. Attorney Tom Moss said. "By the verdict today, they have given voice to the victims."

Duncan showed no reaction other than smiling as the verdict was passed to the judge.

He took Dylan and the boy's then-8-year-old sister, Shasta, to a remote western Montana campsite where he raped, tortured and threatened them before shooting Dylan in the head and burning his body. Jurors viewed horrifying video Duncan made of him sexually abusing, torturing and hanging Dylan until the boy lost consciousness.

"This defendant is dangerous. He is a predator who takes pride in his work," prosecutor Traci Whelan said. "He earned this day. His actions ... call out for the death penalty."

Duncan acted as his own attorney but had offered no response to prosecutors' closing argument.

"I have no argument," he told the court.

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With an eye toward kidnapping the two children, Duncan stalked their family. In 2005 he entered their Coeur d'Alene-area home and used a hammer to fatally bludgeon their 13-year-old brother, Slade Groene, his mother, Brenda Groene, and her fiance, Mark McKenzie.

Duncan was arrested and Shasta rescued weeks after the kidnappings when a waitress at a Denny's in Coeur d'Alene called police after recognizing the two as they ate.

Duncan pleaded guilty in December to 10 federal charges involving the kidnappings and the murder of Dylan. He pleaded guilty to the other three murders in state court, where he also could be sentenced to death.

"I am so glad this is over. Justice has been served," said Darlene Torres, Brenda Groene's mother. "It's been very painful."

She said that when she saw Duncan in court, "I seen nothing but an evil, empty, coldhearted shell."

In closing arguments, Whelan reminded the jury of Duncan's lifelong "pattern of violence," including a conviction for raping a boy at gunpoint in 1980. Duncan has told investigators he killed two half-sisters from Seattle in 1996, and he is charged with killing a young boy in Riverside County, California, in 1997.

Duncan may now be brought to Riverside County to stand trial in the death of Anthony Martinez.

Whelan told the jury that Duncan would pose a risk even to prison guards and fellow inmates.

"This defendant uses the time that he has to think out these plans and he is dangerous," she said. "He is adaptable and he is dangerous."

The heinousness of the evidence in Dylan's murder made it particularly difficult for the jurors to remain impartial as they deliberate, said Art Patterson, a jury consultant and senior vice president of the trial consulting firm DecisionQuest.

"Generally, for human beings, it's pretty hard to maintain impartiality when confronted with such horror," Patterson said.

"How could any juror not want to see this person removed from our list of living human beings? How could you live with yourself as a juror if there's any chance this human being could escape from jail and do something like this again?" Patterson said.

That just made me feel like Im gonna vomit.


I have no words.


Only this for the kids and their families.

General population in prison would be good for him.

Yep...he should die...but rather than get all stirred up about this I'd urge everyone reading to inform themselves.

Did you know that in many states a 17 year old sleeping with a 15 year old is potentially enough to put him on the sex offenders list?

Meanwhile violent offenders are out walking around? Why? Because there isn't enough room in prison for the real offenders.

Let's lock them all up! Umm sorry who's paying the bill?

So the general public is offered these list of so called information about sex offenders so they can be on guard. Do you know that the teen lovers might be on the same list as those violent criminal rapists?

This guy was caught and look how well that worked.

Lynann, please put your chest back in its clothes. That is just wrong!!


As far as who "deserves to die," I don't think anyone deserves to die unless it's people who are physically in pain to the point of nothing fixing them otherwise.

I think criminals should be punished the same way they tortured their victims... and I definitely don't think they deserve to get off easy and die.

haha thanks for the comment...that's why the pic is still up

Sorry I don't fit your idea of what's right...umm nah no that's a lie.

if ya got it,flaunt it.You go girl!!Where can I get a corset like that?

I've posted info on other threads and sent a few pm's to others who've asked about the corset. the one in the picture was purchased at a ren fair in Michigan and I dearly wish I could credit the merchant who fitted and sold it. I cannot.

I was hit by lightening,had a house fire and lost the paper work.

yeah yeah...the reply to that is easy...

There are fairs in most states during the summer and fall. Do a search. When you find a fair and a merchant don't be pressured or flattered into buying. A well fit corset improves your posture and should feel good. Look for good quality materials and stitching because they aren't cheap. Shop around! When you've found the right one you will know. Then have fun!

I'll be in Holly MI on Saturday...not sure if I am dressing for it yet.

Not to mention he sexually abused the girl as well

So if your belief is that he should be punished the same way he tortured his victims, then the punishment would ultimately end up as him getting death. So he got what he deserved!

NOOOOOOOO!!!!! Some guys like that trashy sassy trailer park look! It's from the Salvation Army's "spring" Collection and is by a famous designer- Pill S. Burydoughboy. I believe he is french? It's a poppin fresh collection.

Personally, I think they ought to just take a knife and cut it all off, slap some hot tar on the spot, and tell them now you are just another hog in the pen.

Rape I think and some professionals agree with this isn't about sex as much as it is about violence and control.

I have no sympathy for rapist and people who sexually abuse children but unfortunately cutting it off and slapping some tar on it won't end what they do.

Here is where I agree with muslims and their methods of punishing crimes.

Big pile of rocks outside the court room. Release him to a nice crowd gathered near the rocks.

Let aim and hard throws decide his fate.

quick but not painless.

for every one that is caught and condemned there are at least 10 running around free..we call them, daddy, uncle, brother, granddad, husband, boyfriend, and priest, just to mention a few...
you can kill them when you catch them, but until you can figure out what produces monsters like that, youre never going to stop them...

oh..and Lynann...you already know what I think of your picture....

It'll stop their urges when you take all that is down there.

that is one of the most ignorant things Ive read on this site! Rapist that have been chemically neutured still rape.. with objects, their fingers, their mouths, etc....rape is not about sex, its about power and control..sex is just a means to an end....